It looks like a stuffed animal with wide eyes, the kind that stares at you and makes you melt instantly. But no: this tiny newborn primate is the only venomous primate known on Earth. A baby poisonous pygmy loris, a very rare and critically endangered species, was born at the Bronx Zoo, and the news is going around the world.
The photo released by the zoo shows the little one clinging to a branch, with huge and very dark eyes, so intense that they seem unreal. A look that enchants, but which also tells a much bigger story: that of the conservation of a species threatened by man.
Because this species needs protection today more than ever
The calf was born in December 2025 and is one of only 50 pygmy lorises in AZA-accredited zoos across North America. A number that makes us understand how fundamental every birth is. Pygmy lorises are born with their eyes open and completely covered in fur, ready to cling to their mother from the very first moments of life.
The mother carries it on her belly as she moves and, when it needs to look for food, temporarily places it on a branch. A very tender scene, immortalized in one of these moments. Over time, the puppy will become more independent and will be fully weaned around six months of age. As an adult, this primate will not weigh more than half a kilo.
At the moment it is not yet known whether it is male or female: the sex will be established during the first veterinary check. Even the name is still a mystery.
Why the pygmy loris is poisonous: a unique case among primates
The pygmy loris is not only adorable, it is also unique in nature. It is in fact the only primate known to produce venom. It secretes a toxic substance from a gland located near the arms. By itself it is not dangerous, but when the animal licks itself – a natural behavior – this substance mixes with the saliva and becomes active poison. It is not lethal to humans, but can be very dangerous. A bite can cause severe pain and, in allergic individuals, serious reactions up to anaphylactic shock.
The loris uses this mechanism above all to defend itself from predators: it can spread the mixture on its fur or bite, causing intense pain, swelling and, in some cases, serious allergic reactions. It is a refined evolutionary strategy, developed to survive in hostile environments, but which makes it even more vulnerable to illegal trafficking: many specimens captured for trade have their teeth mutilated, condemning them to a slow death. A detail that reminds us how much this extraordinary animal needs protection, not domestic cages.
Native to Southeast Asia, this primate is nocturnal and can live between 10 and 20 years. But its existence is increasingly threatened. According to the IUCN’s 2021 assessment, the pygmy loris is classified as an endangered species due to habitat destruction, hunting and illegal trafficking linked to the exotic pet trade and purported “medicinal” uses. The birth of the cub, which is part of the international Pygmy Slow Loris Species Survival Plan program, rekindles hope for an adorable species worth protecting.
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