People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1893 — The Ant Bear. [ARTICLE]

The Ant Bear.

An effort is to be made in Cape Colony to prevent the threatened extermination of that curious but useful quadruped, the aardvark, or ant bear, which is one of the very best friends of the white colonists, although they have only lately been induced to believe it. Its food is the white ant, which does enormous mischief to the crops. Against these pests the bear wages ceaseless warfare, digging out their nests and destroying them in countless numbers. Unfortunately the natives are especially fond of ant bear meat, which resembles a very good quality of pork, and also hunt it for its hide, which is worth about four dollars in the market. Time, however, is already beginning to work out the aardvark’s revenge. The white ant is increasing with ominous rapidity, and the farmers’ associations are in a state of considerable alarm. They are demanding protection for the ant bear, and that harmless creature may yet survive to enjoy a season of great prosperity and peace.