In a first, the Meghalaya State Zoo successfully bred a Stump-tailed Macaque, a rare and increasingly threatened primate whose numbers are declining across much of its natural range in South and Southeast Asia. Zoo officials said the successful breeding is an indication that the animals have settled well in their new habitat. (HT picture | Sourced) The birth of the primate is being hailed as a landmark achievement for Meghalaya’s wildlife conservation efforts and a significant step forward in securing the future of a species classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The infant was born to a breeding pair that had been brought from the Aizawl Zoological Park in Mizoram under an animal exchange programme designed to strengthen conservation breeding initiatives among zoos in the region. Officials say the birth demonstrates that the animals have adapted well to their surroundings and that the zoo’s management protocols are delivering results. Describing the development as a milestone for wildlife conservation in the state, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife & Biodiversity) and …