14 DAY TRIAL // St. Louis Zoo in the US is now home to nine baby ocellate mountain vipers. The creatures were born at this facility several weeks ago, on August 16.
They might look utterly adorable to their parents, yet I'm sure many of you will agree they have little chances to strike people as cute, cuddly or huggable.
Conservationists explain that ocellate mountain vipers were believed to have gone extinct some 140 years ago. However, wildlife researchers rediscovered them in Eastern Turkey back in 1983.
Since then, greenheads have been trying to breed this endangered species in captivity. By the looks of it, the staff at St. Louis Zoo is doing a great job.
“There are only three zoos in the United States that maintain that species and we have the largest number.”
“There are a total of 28 of them in the country and we have 23 right here, which includes the nine new babies,” zoo employee Jeff Ettling reportedly told the press.
Despite being fairly young, the baby vipers are already on display. Visitors can observe them, but are advised not to touch their enclosure.
“Please don’t put your arm up against the top of the enclosure because these guys have fangs that hinge outwards they can actually go right through the screen if they want to. So they can get you even though you’re on the outside of the enclosure,” Jeff Ettling warned.