Black-and-white ruffed lemur born at Calgary Zoo, first in 36 years | 24CA News
A bright-eyed, black-and-white ruffed lemur will quickly be seen bouncing across the Calgary Zoo.
The child lemur is one month previous, born on April 7 to oldsters Eny and Menabe. It’s the primary of its species to be born on the zoo since 1987.
“The successful birth of this newest addition is especially exciting and important for Eny and Menabe’s species,” stated Dr. Typhenn Brichieri-Colombi, conservation analysis and technique advisor, in a brand new launch from the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.
”With black-and-white ruffed lemurs being critically endangered in the wild. This pup already plays an important role in the survival and well-being of its species.”
The zoo hasn’t decided the intercourse of the child. Staff will possible wait till the pup receives its first vaccines — which occurs at about 10 weeks previous — to do a full examination.
Then, they’re going to decide how they need to give the toddler its identify.
Menabe arrived on the Calgary Zoo in 2017. The zoo works with different accredited zoos and aquariums collaborating in a species survival plan (SSP) to search out the fitting breeding companions for animals, supporting at-risk species. Eny got here from a zoo within the Czech Republic in 2021.
So far, the little household is starting to bond.
“[Eny’s] just doing such wonderful mothering behaviour. So she’s cleaning it. She’s cuddling it. She’s keeping it warm,” stated Colleen Baird, interim affiliate director of animal care and welfare on the zoo, in an interview with The Homestretch.
“They’re not like a gorilla or other primate species, where [babies] cling to the back or the front of the mom. The mom … she has these nests high up in the canopy, and she’ll travel with this pup in her mouth, moving it from nest to nest as she forages and feeds.”
LISTEN | Colleen Baird explains why and the way they purchase animals from different zoos:
The Homestretch8:28Baby lemur born at Calgary Zoo
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are native to Madagascar. Habitat loss, agriculture, mining, deforestation and local weather change have led to their decline, in response to Baird.
The zoo works to guard three species of lemur in collaboration with the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership and the University of Calgary, the discharge says, serving to communities to develop reforestation actions, plant future habitats and enhance native livelihoods.
They additionally work to teach individuals on why lemurs are so essential.
“Sometimes they eat food with berries or seeds, and then they poop those seeds around. They are actually planting seeds in places for trees to grow,” Baird stated.
“This species is quite important for diversity in Madagascar, and if we just ignore them, then we lose some of those special moments.”
The lemur walk-through on the zoo will probably be reopened on May 19, however the brand new child will not be a part of the conspiracy — what a bunch of lemurs is named — simply but. Baird says the pup must get stronger, first, however it might be seen later in the summertime.
