Pygmy Slow Loris twins
The sexes of the rare pygmy slow loris twins at DierenPark Amersfoort is known. They’re boys! The brothers, who were born in May, are healthy and are increasingly leaving their mother’s side. Now that they are a bit older, the babies have had their first training days. “They receive kennel and scale training. Through these voluntary training courses, we prepare the young for transport and we keep an eye on their health,” says animal caretaker Paul Rodewijk.
The slow loris twins live with their mother in the trees of “The Night”. Here the day and night rhythm are reversed, because the slow loris are active at night. In the wild, the pygmy slow loris lives mainly in Vietnam and Laos. The animal is on the ‘red list’ of endangered species. Their reflective eyes make the pygmy slow loris an ‘easy’ prey for hunters. The night monkeys are often sold to keep as pets and the animals are used in traditional medicine. The population and habitat are also shrinking due to the felling and burning of the forests. “The brothers cannot continue to live in DierenPark Amersfoort, so they are being prepared for departure.” For the time being, visitors can still find the pygmy slow loris twins in the Night in Amersfoort Zoo. “Take a good look in the trees and between the plants to spot the brothers. They are slightly smaller than their mother”, Paul tips.
