The incredible video shows an adorable bear cuscus joey peeking out of its mum’s pouch as she skillfully climbs a tree in their enclosure.
Footage captured at Berlin Zoo, Germany, depicted the tiny marsupial snugly nestled in its mum Duza’s pouch and curiously taking a look at the outer surroundings on 21st November.
This is reportedly the first time spectators have had the chance to catch a glimpse of the joey, which zoo officials confirm was born at the end of August.
Berlin Zoo director Dr Andreas Knieriem said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “The bear cuscus is a fascinating ambassador of the rainforests of Sulawesi, and every birth is a further step towards better understanding and protecting this rare species.
“It is always a special moment when a young animal carefully blinks out of its mother’s pouch for the first time.”
The little one still spends most of its time in its mum’s protective pouch.
Dr Knieriem explains that this is because as all marsupials bear cuscus offspring are born underdeveloped, and complete their growth in the safety of the pouch.
Zookeepers reportedly first spotted the joey over the summer but maintained a respectful distance to ensure mother and baby have the necessary peace.
Dr Knieriem added: “The care of the offspring lies solely with the mother, so we are unable to determine the joey’s sex or weight at this stage.
“Nonetheless, we meticulously document their behaviour to deepen our understanding of this rare species.”
Berlin Zoo is the only facility in Europe currently home to bear cuscus joeys.
Endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and its surrounding islands, the bear cuscus is one of the few leaf-eating marsupials and is known for its slow locomotion and sociable lifestyle.
However, due to the destruction of the rainforests and illegal hunting, the species is considered threatened.
Vet Anja Hantschmann said: “The birth of another cub is not only a reason to rejoice, but an important contribution to ensuring the continued existence of this species.”
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