This spring, visitors to the Tierpark may spot a small figure clinging tightly to two of the female ring-tailed lemurs – with little fluffy ears, a tiny velvety torso, and a thin stripy tail. The best place to catch a glimpse of the young ring-tailed lemurs is through the large window of their house next to the lemur island.
Male ring-tailed lemur Jean (3) arrived in Berlin from Zoo Cottbus last June, and he seems to have been a big hit with the ladies. The first baby was born to Mandy (7) on 25 March, and the second to Charlene (3) on 28 March. In the first few weeks of their life, the babies’ main concerns are to hold on tight to mummy’s fur and to drink as much nourishing milk as they can. It is currently too early to determine the sex of the two new lemurs.
“We’re delighted to welcome some adorable new baby ring-tailed lemurs after a hiatus of three years,” said Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem. “It’s wonderful to watch first-time mum Charlene getting tips from more experienced Mandy on how to care for her baby.”
Ring-tailed lemurs became particularly popular with the public after the success of the animated movie Madagascar. Tierpark Berlin is home to five of these endangered lemurs, whose natural habitat is in the drier regions of Madagascar.
