Four Endangered Lemurs Born At FL Lemur Conservation Foundation

MYAKKA CITY, FL — Four lemurs representing three endangered species were recently born at the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s 130-acre reserve in Myakka City, the organization said in a newsletter.

The first lemur to arrive this season was an endangered collared brown lemur, Chandler, born to Isabelle and Vincent in April.

The next were critically endangered red ruffed lemur twins, Furry and Fuzzy, born to Zazabe and Ranomamy later that month.

The fourth infant, an endangered ring-tail lemur named Orchard, born to Dalia and Goose in May, is the latest to join the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s lemur colony.

“We are very proud of the keepers for the excellent care they provide, and of the babies themselves, who are making a significant contribution toward saving their species from extinction,” Deborah Robbins Millman, the foundation’s executive director, said. “Of the more than 110 species of lemur, 98% are threatened with extinction, making our work here so critical.”

Lemurs are native only to Madagascar, and populations there continue to plummet, because of several factors, including destruction of the rainforest, illegal hunting and predators.

Founded in 1996, the foundation, which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, works with the AZA’s Species Survival Plans to ensure the long-term health and genetic diversity of managed lemur populations through managed breeding, scientific research, education and art.