Amazon World Welcomes Birth of Endangered Slow Loris Twins

Amazon World Zoo Park on the Isle of Wight is celebrating the rare and exciting birth of Endangered Pygmy Slow Loris twins!

Born on May 2nd to proud parents Ramina (9) and Lapek (14), these tiny primates mark the fourth successful birth at the zoo since the pair arrived in December 2020.

This is an especially significant event, as these are the only Pygmy Slow Loris twins born in the UK in the last year. Globally, just seven other European zoos have recorded births in the same period, according to ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System).

Native to the rainforests and bamboo thickets of Southeast Asia, the Pygmy Slow Loris is the world’s only venomous primate. They use venom from a special gland, mixed with their saliva, to protect their young from predators.

These nocturnal creatures feed on tree gum, nectar, and insects, and can be seen in the Zoo’s Twilight area.

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, their numbers have declined by over 50% in the past 24 years due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. This birth is a vital contribution to the conservation of this unique and threatened species.