NEED TO KNOW
- An endangered pygmy slow loris was born at the Bronx Zoo on Dec. 13
- The animal is the first primate to be welcomed at the New York-based zoo’s new immersive World of Darkness exhibit
- Animal care staff will determine the baby’s sex when it has its first veterinary exam
The Bronx Zoo has expanded its animal family by one.
An endangered pygmy slow loris was born at the New York-based zoo on Dec. 13, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced in a news release on Jan. 22.
The newborn is the first primate born at the Bronx Zoo’s new immersive World of Darkness exhibit, the WCS said.
Animal care staff will determine the baby’s sex when it has its first veterinary exam, the non-profit organization added.
According to the WCS, pygmy slow lorises “become more active and independent” in the months after their birth. They will be “fully weaned around 6 months of age,” per the organization.
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Terria Clay/Bronx Zoo
The pygmy slow loris is a small primate that is originally found in Southeast Asia, the WCS said.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, the animal is considered endangered.
The decline in their population is heavily due to habitat loss and poaching for the illegal pet trade, the list states.
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The Bronx Zoo participates in the pygmy slow loris Species Survival Plan (SSP), a breeding program handled by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
It works to “maintain a genetically diverse population of the endangered species,” according to the
WCS.
