A rare Alaotran Gentle Lemur born recently at Chester Zoo is the first of its kind to ever be born at the zoo.
Despite all efforts by keepers the baby’s parent’s ,mum, Molly and dad, Fady are yet to allow the keepers to sex the baby. They have kept a close eye on the lemur to get it through the vital first weeks of its life.
Tim Rowlands, the zoo’s curator of mammals attested to this ‘Both mum and dad are doing a great job bringing up their new charge. Mum is super protective and dad is also pulling his weight-he occasionally helps to do some of the carrying.’
Alaotran Gentle lemurs are found only around lake Alaotra. In this area they are incredibly threatened by habitat destruction. They live in reed beds which are burned or the lake is drained for irrigating rice paddies.
Rowlands said, ‘This is a critically endangered species. They face a very real threat of extinction in the wild and the this is the first time the species has ever bred at Chester Zoo.’
The Alaotran Gentle lemurs are sometimes made into bushmeat and sold as pets. These pets rarely survive. Only 2,500 are believed to be left around lake Alaotra.
Photo Credit: Chester Zoo
