MYAKKA CITY – The birth of two healthy newborns at the Lemur Conservation Foundation brings renewed hope for two endangered lemur species.
“We’re working really hard to save lemurs from extinction so each baby born is just another piece in that essential puzzle,” said Executive Director of the Lemur Conservation Foundation, Deborah Robbins Millman.
Collared brown lemur Isabelle and her partner, Olivier, and mongoose lemur Luisa and her partner, Javier, each welcomed newborns in early May.
“Especially when an endangered species is born that’s a cause for celebration, we have an endangered lemur and a critically endangered lemur that were born this season and they’re doing great,” said Millman.
The Lemur Conservation Foundation works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the long-term health and genetic diversity of managed lemur populations, which have only about 100 existing species.
“This is our fifth collared brown lemur born and we’ve had 25 mongoose lemurs born in our 25 going on 26 year history, it’s exciting, we have the largest mongoose lemur population among any Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility and this little one is one more,” said Millman.
It is too soon to tell the sex of the newborns, since they are still clinging to their mothers.
“We’ll see them still clinging to mom but trying to grab at things around mom, but you won’t really see them getting off of mom for a few months at least,” said Senior Keeper at the Lemur Conservation Foundation, Meredith Hinton.
Infant season continues for several weeks and at least one more newborn is anticipated.
“There’s a lot that goes into the care for these animals, especially when they have babies so we are doing everything we can to make them have the best successful life that they can have,” said Hinton.
The Lemur Conservation Foundation is closed to the public but welcomes visiting scientists and students studying lemur behavior. For more information, you can visit their website here.
