Pygmy slow loris born at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium shared exciting news Wednesday when they announced the birth of a pygmy slow loris.

The baby pygmy slow loris was born on Wednesday, February 24 to 9-year-old mother, Gouda, and 9-year-old father, Muenster. The sex of the baby will be determined in about six months when the baby becomes more independent.

The pairing of parents Gouda and Muenster was recommended by the Species Survival Plan (also known as SSP0, a program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to maintain genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species in human care.

The pygmy slow loris is a nocturnal prosimian, or a primitive primate, that lives in Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and southern China.

The Zoo says they are considered an opportunistic omnivore, which means they aren't picky eaters.

"The pygmy slow loris eats everything from fruits to small insects. The pygmy slow loris is also one of the only venomous mammals! When the loris licks a toxic secretion from the inside of its elbows, it causes their bite to become venomous," the Zoo said in a release.