Al Ain Zoo welcomes lemurs from Madagaskar

Easily recognisable from the animated film Madagascar, these intelligent, playful and inquisitive primates are the first of their kind at the zoo and will surely provide a unique and unmatched visitor experience.

The family of five primates were welcomed to the zoo in collaboration with Al Bustan Zoological Centre in Sharjah. These animals, native only to Madagascar, are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to their dwindling numbers in the wild.

Commenting on the new additions, Muna Al Dhaheri, Chief of Conservation and Education said: “The new addition of the Lemurs is a testament to the zoo’s commitment to implementing and developing conservation programmes. Their presence at Al Ain Zoo is important and highlights our dedication to areas such as captive management, conservation research, captive breeding, .propagation, and the reintroduction of endangered species into the wild whenever possible.”

Al Dhaheri assured that the preparations helped environmentally strengthen the Lemurs, and that the Zoo is providing them with entertainment within the enclosures to suit their actual behaviour in the wild.

Lemurs, known for their distinctive long tails coated with black spirals, have several shades of brown covering their thick fur. Unlike other tree-climbing primates, lemurs prefer spending their time playing and resting on the ground. Their basic diet consists of vegetables, fruits, small mammals, and insects, which provides them with the needed proteins and carbohydrates. Lemurs’ lifespan ranges between 16 and 19 years in the wild, but can live up to 20 years. -news@khaleejtimes.com