On a quiet evening near Johannesburg, South Africa, a group of farmers noticed their border collie barking frantically at something moving in the grass. Expecting a small wild creature, they approached carefully. To their astonishment, lying before them was a tiny cub that looked like a baby hyena. But they quickly realized this was no hyena at all — it was an aardwolf, a shy and seldom-seen species whose name translates to earth-wolf in Afrikaans and Dutch.
The Elusive Earth-Wolf
Aardwolves are among the most secretive animals in South Africa. Though they aren’t endangered, many people live their entire lives without spotting one in the wild. Unlike other predators, aardwolves are insect specialists, feasting almost exclusively on termites. In fact, an adult can consume up to 300,000 termites in a single night.
Seeing a baby aardwolf out in the open without her mother was incredibly unusual. The farmers searched for days, hoping the cub’s mother would return. But when no adult appeared after several nights, it became clear that the cub was on her own and in desperate need of help.
Rescue and First Steps to Survival
The farmers contacted Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, who rushed to collect the tiny aardwolf. Staff named her Maple. When she first arrived, Maple’s condition was critical — she was dehydrated, dangerously underweight, and too weak to survive much longer without intervention.
“She was really underweight and dehydrated,” explained volunteer Lauren Beckley. “We just had to get her through the first couple of days, just getting her to eat.”
Because of her fragile state, Maple required round-the-clock care and bottle-feeding. Beckley even welcomed Maple into her home, acting as her surrogate mom during those critical early months.
Growing Strong and Learning to Be Wild
With patient care, Maple slowly regained her strength. As she grew, she was introduced to her natural diet — termites. Her first few nibbles were hesitant, but soon she began eating them with enthusiasm, showing her wild instincts were intact.
To prepare Maple for her eventual return to nature, Beckley moved her into a soft-release outdoor enclosure. This safe environment gave Maple the chance to adapt gradually to the sounds, scents, and rhythms of the wild while still having human support close by.
A Farewell Filled With Gratitude
The day eventually came when Maple was ready to reclaim her life as a wild aardwolf. Beckley left the enclosure door open, giving her the choice to leave when she felt ready. Maple hesitated for a moment, then stepped out into the bush. She wandered a few steps, looked around, and before disappearing into the wild, turned her head back toward Beckley — as if offering a silent thank you.
“When I look at her, I see gratitude,” Beckley reflected.
Thanks to the kindness of farmers, the dedication of rescuers, and Maple’s own resilience, a once-abandoned aardwolf cub was given a second chance at life — and the freedom to live as nature intended.
