Aardwolves are insectivorous hyenas that require highly specialized care in captivity, including live termite access and nocturnal activity opportunities.
Aardwolves present unique welfare challenges in zoo settings. Their entire physiology is adapted for termite consumption — feeding substitute diets of commercial insect mixes often leads to nutritional deficiencies and stereotypic behaviors. Providing foraging opportunities with live termite colonies or appropriate substrates allows natural feeding behavior expression. Nocturnal species kept in standard daytime zoo schedules may experience chronic stress; red-light nocturnal houses that reverse light cycles dramatically improve behavioral indicators. Social housing must also be carefully managed, as aardwolves are largely solitary outside breeding season.