'Hideously cute' baby aardvark born at Detroit Zoo

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This recent photo, supplied by the Detroit Zoo, shows a newborn aardvark, Amani (Swahili for “peace”), was born December 8 to mother, Rachaael, and father, Mchimbaji. The Detroit Zoo is awaiting DNA test results to determine the sex. The 23-inch infant arrived hairless, weighing 3 pounds, 10 ounces, with ears measuring 4 inches. (AP Photo/Detroit Zoo,Mark M. Gaskill)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM EST

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — The stork has left a baby aardvark at the Detroit Zoo.

The zoo announced Tuesday that the 23-inch creature was born hairless but boasting four-inch ears early in the morning of Dec. 8. It weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces.

Zoo Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare Scott Carter said in a news release that the animal "can only be described as hideously cute."

The infant is named Amani, the Swahili word for "peace." Its gender is unknown pending a DNA test.

The zoo in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak says zookeepers are helping new mother Rachaael raise Amani due to aardvarks' clumsy nature and poor eyesight.

The long-snouted African mammals can grow up to 5 to 6 feet in length and weigh 90 to 145 pounds.

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