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The furry critter of the Philippines: A giant cloud rat’s pup born in Moscow zoo

The furry critter of the Philippines: A giant cloud rat’s pup born in Moscow zoo
Northern Luzon giant cloud rats can only be found in the Philippines. They are very unusual-looking animals. They resemble the nutria because of their body shape and furry coat, but they are the size of a domestic cat.

A Northern Luzon giant cloud rat’s pup has been born at the Moscow Zoo. With a weight of up to 2.5 kg, these animals are one of the largest members of the Muridae family. The giant cloud rat is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a least-concern species. However, their population in the wild is steadily declining.

This critter is also known as the northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat. They arrived at the Moscow Zoo in 2015. The first rats were brought from the Philippines, and in just six months, there was an addition to the family. Besides the new pup, there are currently six giant cloud rats living in the zoo, one male and five females.

“This is the second time there has been a birth among the Northern Luzon giant cloud rats at our zoo. It took some time for zoologists to notice the pregnancy due to the female’s thick fur, but all became clear when the future mother began building a nest. The newborn rat is exploring the world around him, but he stays close to his mother for most of the day and follows her when she climbs branches and the net in their enclosure,” said Moscow Zoo General Director Svetlana Akulova.

The small rodent is still feeding on its mother’s milk, but already trying adult food. The diet of Northern Luzon giant cloud rats includes branches with leaves, cabbage, bell pepper, celery, pumpkin seeds and apples. Their favourite food is bananas, but zoologists rarely indulge them with this fruit due to its excessive sweetness.

To learn more about the life of these animals, go to the zoo’s social network pages. The zoo will also post short videos about the life of the baby rat.

One of these giant rats, an adult female, lives in the Night World pavilion, which is not yet open to public for safety reasons. The rest of the group, including the baby rat, live in a closed part of the zoo. The Night World pavilion is located in the old territory of the zoo.

In the wild, the Northern Luzon giant cloud rat can only be seen in the Philippines, in the northern and central Luzon (the Abra, Benguet, Kalinga-Apayao, Laguna and Nueva Vizcaya provinces). They inhabit forests and shrubland. Their population is steadily declining due to the elimination of their natural habitat. These rats give birth to only one baby, which exacerbates the situation.

The Northern Luzon giant cloud rat does not look like most other members of the Muridae family, but resembles the nutria. It has a thick coat, with most of its body covered in light grey fur with black spots. Some of the animals are almost white or brownish black. The hair on their tails is thin. Their ears are small and round-shaped and their long sharp claws help them climb trees. They are the size of a domestic cat and are almost 50 cm long.

Little is known about their habits in the wild. Zoologists study only the animals that live in captivity. Experts suggest that the rats prefer a solitary life.

The Moscow Zoo is taking part in a European programme to preserve and study this species. When the baby rat grows up, it may be moved to a major Russian or foreign zoo.

Rare Dalmatian pelicans and bush dogs were born at the zoo this year. The maned wolf, a very rare species from the dog family, also had cubs. A family of Humboldt penguins produced offspring in March. Now, the Moscow Zoo is home to the biggest group of these birds in Russia, including nine breeding couples and over a dozen birds of different ages, from fledglings to adult penguins. In total, there are 35 of them. A rare ring-tailed lemur gave birth to a pup this spring and a black stork was born as well. 

On 16 June, the Moscow Zoo opens its doors to the public. The zoo was closed for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The operating hours are from 7.30 am to 10 pm, with last entry at 9 pm. Tickets are available only via the zoo’s website to avoid queues at the ticket offices.

There is still no entry into the pavilions and exhibitions and the children’s zoo remains closed. Use of benches, gazebos and children’s playgrounds is not permitted. The paths near the enclosures are marked with bright colours to remind visitors to maintain a safe distance from each other. Visitors are required to wear masks. Gloves are also recommended.