The Lemur Conservation Foundation is extremely excited to celebrate this Father’s Day by announcing the birth of a critically endangered mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz)- the fifth infant born at the reserve this year!
Our newest addition to the LCF colony joined experienced parents Leena and Merced on May 3. This is the pair’s sixth infant since Leena’s arrival at LCF in 2014 on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). At seven weeks old, he or she is transitioning to riding on mom’s back and is starting to explore its surroundings, including older brother Lonzo. Determining the sex of an infant lemur takes a little bit of time, and we look forward to updating you when we know if our new addition is a boy or a girl—and can then have a name.
Mongoose lemurs are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List with an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. In addition to their important role in conservation, education, and research, Leena, Merced, and all the lemurs at LCF involved in our managed breeding program serve as a genetic safety net against possible extinction in the wild.