The Lemur Conservation Foundation is extremely excited to celebrate this Mother’s Day by announcing the birth of an endangered collared brown lemur (Eulemur collaris)- the first infant born at the reserve this year!
The infant, born on April 2 to first-time parents Isabelle and Olivier, is only the fourth collared lemur born at LCF in our 25 year history! Isabelle is handling motherhood effortlessly, quickly adapting to the presence of her new infant and providing it exceptional care and attention. The little family can often be found lounging outside in the sun or sitting on Isabelle’s favorite pillow indoors. 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.
Collared lemurs are listed as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List with a high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. In addition to their important role in conservation, education, and research, Isabelle, Olivier, and all the collared lemurs at LCF involved in our managed breeding program serve as a genetic safety net against possible extinction in the wild.
Our collared lemur infant isn’t the only birth the Lemur Conservation Foundation is celebrating this Mother’s Day. We are also thrilled to announce the birth of critically endangered red ruffed lemur triplets!
These bundles of joy arrived late in the evening of April 13 to first time parents Zazabe and Ranomamy. Thanks to the continuing support of our amazing followers and the donation of several WiFi cameras, staff were able to observe the birth from afar, watching for any signs of complications. This is the pair’s first birth since Ranomamy’s arrival at LCF in 2019 on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Ruffed Lemur Species Survival Plan (SSP). This is also LCF’s first birth of multiple red ruffed lemurs since 2008!
Unlike our other lemur species, red-ruffed infants don’t cling to their mom. Instead, as females give birth to litters, usually 2-3 infants but sometimes as many as 6, she makes a nest where her babies safely reside until they’re big enough to move around on their own. This nesting behavior allows our staff to more closely monitor red ruffed lemur infants, including obtaining regular weights to closely monitor growth and development.
Red ruffed lemur dad, Ranomamy, remains wary of the new arrivals, preferring to keep his distance and let Zazabe’s mothering instincts take charge. With a trio of active infants to care for, she has her hands full!
Red ruffed lemur infants mature extremely quickly and the triplets are already moving around their enclosure semi-independently. For now, the family is living in a specialized habitat to allow maximum safety and monitoring, but we look forward to introducing the triplets to our free-range forest habitat once they have gained the necessary weight, strength, and agility to safely traverse the space.
Red ruffed 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. Every infant born at LCF increases the genetic safety net against extinction, and provides renewed hope for the survival of lemurs for generations to come.