Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
What's taters, precious? What's taters, eh?
The aye-aye is a creature thought so ugly that in its native jungle superstitious villagers beat it to death - but it has become the pride and joy of Bristol Zoo. At first keepers wanted to call this baby Gollum, after its striking resemblance to the anti-hero of The Lord of Rings, but instead decided on Kintana, which means star in Madagascar, where the aye-aye originates.
These extraordinary nocturnal creatures are so rarely seen that they were once thought to have become extinct. Numbers are uncertain and they are listed in the international "red book" of endangered species. Bristol is only one of two zoos in the world which have bred aye-ayes successfully and hopes the lessons learned will help to ensure the species' survival.
(thanks, Tara)
TrackBackOK, so I'm not sure that picture exactly helps the cause of conservation. Yeeks.
Posted by: Robust McManlyPants at April 15, 2005 03:49 PMCutest. Animal. Ever.
Of course, this coming from the guy that thought the tarsier was the awesomest.
Posted by: tweedledopey at April 15, 2005 04:25 PMThe first Aye-Aye ever born in captivity was born in your very own hometown of Durham in 1992 the year we were married. (By we I mean me and Paul.) Duke Primate Center has Aye-Ayes and Duke alum - Chris Kraft features them on Zaboomafoo thus Emily often speaks of Aye-Ayes and how they eat bugs at night and thus we should get some.
X0
Come on people, everyone knows that all babies look like conservatives, and then their brain starts growing and working and they become sentient beings.
Posted by: Bryan at April 15, 2005 08:35 PMEverything is beautiful, in it's own way...
God (no definition) bless the little aye aye. He so ugly he make me look good, heh heh.
He looks like a cross between a bat and a possum having a bad hair day.
Not too ugly compared to a hairless cat, but then again what is? Kinda reminds me of baby rats (shudder).
Of course newborn human spawn isn't always the prettiest thing either, and I say this as a guy who liked the first one so much he went back for three more.
Posted by: Tripp at April 18, 2005 10:03 AMHe's adorable! Any chance of a a "Kintana-cam"? I have never seen an adult, does anyone know of a website to view one?
I think the bat/possum/bad hair day reference is right-on. Still adorable!
Posted by: Donna at May 2, 2005 03:55 PMi think that aye aye are cute! How ever doesn't think that then you are crazy
Posted by: at October 3, 2005 02:02 PMI love Aye-Ayes...they are a very unique and rare animal.
Posted by: chase at April 1, 2008 09:00 PM