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Tipping the Scales

PETR DAVID JOSEK—AP

A baby pangolin was born on February 2. The species is usually found in Asia. But this pangolin was born at the Prague Zoo, in the Czech Republic. This is the first of the species born in Europe. Pangolins are critically endangered. They are hunted in the wild. People value their scales and their meat.

Zookeepers were worried at first. They put the baby on a scale. It was losing weight. Its mother wasn’t making enough milk. The baby was fed cat’s milk. Its mother began to produce more milk too. Zookeepers felt more hopeful. But they are keeping a close eye on the baby. Miroslav Bobek is the zoo’s director. He says, “We have only overcome the first hurdle, and others are still waiting for us.”