Zoo welcomes baby ring-tailed lemur

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) family grew by one this week, with the birth of a healthy ring-tailed lemur.

“Mom Lucy is doing great, and the baby is exhibiting all of the major milestones we hope to see,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “We have not yet identified if it’s a boy or girl because we are allowing time for mom and baby to bond and will be selecting a name in the coming weeks.”

Infant ring-tailed lemurs will cling to their mother’s belly for the first few weeks before moving to a more jockey-style hold on mom’s back. Mom will introduce solid foods after about two weeks with full weaning at five to six months of age. Lucy will be keeping a close eye on her baby as it will begin to explore the habitat and become increasingly independent after a month. Lucy will be celebrating her first Mother’s Day this weekend as this is the first ring-tailed lemur born to mom Lucy and dad Ringo following their arrival at the Zoo last year.

Ring-tailed lemurs are native to southwestern Madagascar and are classified as endangered. Lemurs are considered the most endangered mammal group in the world and their populations are managed through Species Survival Plan Programs led by expert advisors who cooperatively work together to maximize genetic diversity and appropriately manage the demographic distribution and long-term sustainability of the species.

The ring-tailed lemur family is located in the Small Mammal House at the Zoo. The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the Zoo Season Pass.