WASHINGTON — We all love animals, and we love them more when we find similarities with them. That could be why two pygmy slow loris babies are catching everyone's attention at the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Zuko, the male, and Azula, the female, were born four months ago, and according to the Smithsonian National Zoo staff, they are "acclimated to taking food off of the tongs."
Leaning on new basic training behaviors, Zuko and Azula participate in the Zoo's positive reinforcement program, where they have learned to climb a scale for a nice food reward.
Zuko and Azula were born into popularity. Their parents, Pabu and Naga, were inspired by the Avatar franchise, and that is why Zoo staffers kept the tradition and "named them after the siblings in the television show."
As these two furry babies continue to get braver, Zuko and Azula weigh 222 grams and 262 grams respectively. Experts say they mentioned weight as a nice evolution pattern as, for reference, their parents weigh between 400 and 500 grams.
One cool thing staffers stated is the speed with which they catch worms with their tongs. Still babies, that means they spend time doing fun things!
Zuko and Azula are what we call 'night owls'. As nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day, and that is why you could look for them in an exhibit under red lights to simulate nighttime.
These creatures are ready to meet you, but please don't be fooled by those internet videos that show humans tickling them. This breed is the only known venomous primate, according to the Smithsonian. When a person tickles these creatures, they respond by raising their arms and exposing their venom glands to defend themselves.
To learn more, please visit the Smithsonian National Museum.