News and Stories

It’s officially fall, and you know what that means… PSL season! While we love pumpkin spice lattes, here at the Cincinnati Zoo there’s another PSL we love even more: Pygmy Slow Loris!

Usually found in Jungle Trails, you may have noticed that these cute prosimians have been off habitat for the last several months, and that’s because we’ve been keeping a secret… We’d like to introduce our newest addition, Luke! Look for him  on habitat very soon with mom (Blackwell) and dad (Io Moth) in the first building in Jungle Trails!

Initially taken off habitat for mom’s “maternity leave,” their return was delayed when Luke was involved in an accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm when he was just a week old (he got his name “Luke” after Luke Skywalker who is missing the same arm!). The accident happened overnight and out of camera view, so we aren’t exactly sure what happened, but thanks to efforts by our keepers and vet team he has made a full recovery. Luke received daily antibiotic injections, red light laser therapy treatments, and supplemental bottle feedings every hour and a half until his arm was healed and he was meeting normal developmental markers. Besides when he was receiving healthcare, or being weighed to monitor his growth, he has remained with mom the entire time who has taken great care of him and his arm. Since the accident occurred so early in his life,  Luke has learned to navigate life with his one arm easily and (despite their name) is actually quite speedy

Pygmy Slow Loris’ are nocturnal, and found in areas of Vietnam, Laos, and China. These endangered prosimians are dangerously cute… No, seriously! Loris’ are the only known venomous primate, whose bite can cause anaphylactic shock. They have a special gland near their elbow that they lick when threatened; this gland secretes an oil that mixes with their saliva to create their venom. Despite this, one of their biggest threats in the wild is the exotic pet trade. In order to be kept as pets they are often forced to undergo painful procedures to prevent them from using their venom and are kept in cruel conditions. One way you can help PSL’s is by monitoring what social media content you engage. It’s best to avoid liking or sharing content that depicts them as pets, and instead support accredited institutions that support conservation efforts. Here at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden we participate in the Pygmy Slow Loris Species Survival Plan (SSP), and one day Luke will go on to help his population’s decreasing numbers by being part of the SSP breeding program.

Make sure to stop by and say “hi” to Luke on your next visit.