Radio Taiwan International
Date: 05 July, 2019
By: Leslie Liao

Hira the aye-aye is at Taipei Zoo, on loan from Japan![/caption] An endangered lemur is at the Taipei Zoo, on loan from Japan. Less than 60 of these elusive primates are currently in captivity. Now, visitors to Taipei Zoo will have a chance to see one for themselves.

Taipei Zoo’s newest house guest is furry and has a pair of big round eyes. Her name is Hira, and she’s an aye-aye, a species of lemur native to Madagascar. Hira is on loan from Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, and she arrived in Taiwan on July 1.

Aye-ayes are the world’s largest nocturnal primate, and their diets consist mostly of insects. Their name means “song” in Malagasy. Zoo official Hsieh Hsin-I says that Malagasy people believe these animals resemble demons and that their appearance is an omen.

Once thought to be extinct, aye-ayes are listed as an endangered species. Aye-ayes are poached, resulting in a dwindling population. There are only 57 aye-ayes in captivity.    [FULL  STORY]