Vienna, Austria - January 28, 2025 Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna has celebrated a rare breeding success with the birth of four naked mole rats after nearly eight years without offspring. The young, now eight weeks old, measure around seven centimeters and have transitioned from suckling to eating tubers and root vegetables. Zoo director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck explained that a stable social structure was key to this success. Naked mole rats live in colonies led by a single queen, the only fertile female, who suppresses reproduction in others. If the queen dies, other females can compete for her role. Visitors can observe the young rats with the rest of the colony in the zoo's 70-meter-long glass tube labyrinth, offering a glimpse into the otherwise hidden world of these fascinating creatures. Known for their ability to live in oxygen-deprived tunnels and for their resistance to cancer, naked mole rats remain a subject of scientific study. Since summer 2024, the Desert House, where the mole rats live, is included in the zoo's annual pass, and a combination ticket is available for day visitors.