Proximity to Humans Reduces Distance to Foraging Sites by Aardvarks.

Abstract

Aardvarks change the ecosystem through digging for food and shelter thus providing habitats for various animals in sub-Saharan Africa. We determined use of the landscape and foraging behaviour of aardvarks in a communal area. We aged and quantified aardvark foraging burrows and dens in the dry, wet and early dry seasons of 2020 and 2021 in Ncunjane village of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. We used 50 m × 10 m belt transects to quantify aardvark foraging burrows in each site of aardvark activity. For each aardvark foraging burrow, we determined age and measured the maximum depth and two perpendicular lengths on the ground surface. We recorded numbers of active dens, active and inactive entrances for each den, distances between active entrances of a den and size of the den. We recorded any animal activity or trace (e.g., animal faeces and spider webs) on the den entrances. Aardvarks dug shallow and deep foraging burrows in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. All seasons comprised a greater number (> 51%) of old than new and very old foraging burrows. Aardvarks showed human avoidance by restricting their foraging activities to the rangeland rather than within the village. Dens were constructed close (within 50 m) to feeding areas, which may be necessary in a human-dominated environment. Villagers closed den entrances closer to homes with rocks to prevent snake habitation and used the den entrances as dumping sites for rubbish and disposable nappies. Ultimately, aardvarks appeared to regulate their behaviour by keeping their activities in the outskirts of the village, feeding closer to dens, creating many entrances for escape and thus limited space utilised compared to their counterparts in protected areas. Human activities will likely drive aardvarks away or facilitate local extinction. The study encourages active conservation efforts in marginalised communal areas.