The aardvark is one of Africa’s most secretive and enigmatic mammals — a species many safari-goers never glimpse and researchers rarely study in depth. This is precisely why the Aardvark Project, which we proudly support, is so critical.
Climate change is reshaping Southern Africa’s landscapes, bringing rising temperatures and increasing aridity. These shifts are affecting the delicate balance of ecosystems and the animals that rely on them — including the understated but ecologically important aardvark.
At the heart of the project lies a key hypothesis: climate change is reducing the abundance of ants and termites, the primary diet of myrmecophagous species such as aardvarks and pangolins. Although the IUCN lists aardvarks as “Least Concern,” they remain surprisingly understudied, largely because their nocturnal habits and elusive nature make them challenging to observe in the wild.
“Aardvarks can be very difficult to study, as they are nocturnal burrowing animals,” explains Professor Emily Bennitt from the University of Botswana. “However, in an area like the Makgadikgadi Pans, which is very open and has a high density of aardvark, they can be observed relatively regularly.”
The Aardvark Project began with an initial survey at Thamo Telele, where camera traps were strategically placed near suspected burrows and waterholes. Over a three-month period, researchers recorded 13 aardvark sightings. Building on this early success, three long-term study sites were established: Thamo Telele, Jack’s Camp, and a third location in the Kalahari. At Jack’s Camp, guide KG Baruti is leading the Makgadikgadi research as part of his MSc studies.
The study focuses on understanding the aardvark’s role as an ‘ecosystem engineer.’ Their burrows create vital habitat and refuge for at least 27 other vertebrate species, according to research conducted in South Africa, highlighting how the conservation of this elusive mammal has far-reaching ecological benefits.
“This is the first project focusing on aardvarks in Botswana,” says Professor Bennitt. “Aardvarks are a keystone species — their burrows are vital to many other animals. Their digging also turns over soil, influencing how the entire ecosystem functions.”
Yet the survival of these elusive mammals is increasingly threatened by shifting climate conditions.
“Ants and termites are highly sensitive to extreme temperatures and drought,” Emily notes. “When termite activity drops, aardvarks struggle to find enough food. We’ve even observed them foraging in daylight to compensate. If termites decline under prolonged drought, aardvarks lose condition — and their numbers could start to fall.”
To better understand these pressures, researchers are mapping burrow density, monitoring aardvark body condition, and documenting which species rely on their burrows. They are also analysing invertebrate populations and scat samples to quantify diet and prey availability.
“We want to know whether aardvarks in the Makgadikgadi can meet their energy requirements year-round, or if there are critical times when they become vulnerable,” says Professor Bennitt. “This will help us predict how climate change may affect their population in the future.”
By studying both the role and vulnerabilities of aardvarks, the project aims to guide targeted conservation strategies — safeguarding not only these unique mammals, but also the many species that depend on the shelter and ecosystem services they provide.