Meet the Wild Place Project’s Adorable Endangered Lemur Baby

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: May 22, 2020 11:20 pm

Photo Credit: The Wild Place Project

The Wild Place Project in Bristol, United Kingdom has welcomed a Lake Aloatra gentle lemur to their family. The tiny baby is smaller than a tennis ball but is a massive achievement for this critically endangered species.

The as yet unnamed infant was born in early May to parents Tiana and Roa. This is their second baby in two years. Their last infant Hazo still lives with the family.

Photo Credit: The Wild Place Project

“It’s always exciting to welcome a new born and Tiana is proving to be a fantastic mother and is very attentive towards her baby, holding it close and grooming it,” said Joe Norman, animal team leader at Wild Place Project, “We will be keeping an eye on the pair over the coming weeks but the infant appears strong and healthy and has been seen feeding well.”

Keeper’s will not discover the gender of the baby Lake Aloatra gentle lemur until its first health check in around 6 months time.

Photo Credit: The Wild Place Project

While there may be 110 species of lemur on Madagascar these are unique in that they are the only one’s adapted to living amongst reed and papyrus beds. Unfortunately numbers are reducing as their habitat is burnt for fishing and to provide land for cattle grazing. They face further threats from hunting for food and the pet trade.

Wild Place Project is operated by Bristol Zoological Society which is a conservation charity with the mission of “Saving Wildlife Together”.

In Madagascar this work has taken the form of supporting the construction of a new field station over the last 2 years. The new Ankarafa field station will provide a base for the conservationists and researchers who work on lemur protection in the north-western Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park.

The Wild Place Project and its sister site, Bristol Zoo Gardens are currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To continue their work including saving lemurs in Madagascar they are asking for public support. You can learn more about their appeal here – https://bristolzoo.org.uk/bzsappeal.

You can learn more about the Wild Place Project on their website – Wild Place Project