Lansing, MI – Potter Park Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a healthy ring-tailed lemur baby on Sunday, April 28, 2024. This exciting addition represents the third successful birth of this species at the zoo since 2022. Our team reports that the baby is actively nursing and can be seen clinging to its mother. The sex of the baby will be determined by our veterinary team in the coming months.
Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are native to the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. Known for their distinctive black-and-white banded tails comprising exactly 13 alternating bands, these primates begin by clinging to their mother’s bellies before transitioning to riding jockey-style on their mothers’ backs after a few weeks. By one week old, they begin sampling solid food and become increasingly independent over the following month. However, they continue to nurse and sleep with their mother until they are weaned at five or six months of age.
The breeding of Madi and Han was part of a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which aims to ensure healthy and genetically diverse zoo populations. Madi and Han, have now produced three offspring, joining Kermit and Gonzo in our lemur troop.
Ring-tailed lemurs face significant threats in the wild and were most recently assessed as endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018 due to habitat loss from deforestation. Each successful birth at Potter Park Zoo is a testament to our commitment to the species’ survival and provides a valuable opportunity to educate the public about these rare and fascinating primates.
We invite visitors to meet the lemur family in the Feline and Primate House at Potter Park Zoo. Stay updated with more news and photos of the ring-tailed lemurs by following our zoo’s social media pages.
Potter Park Zoo is home to nearly 300 animals, including critically endangered black rhinos, endangered red pandas, Massasauga rattlesnakes, and spider monkeys. The zoo is open 364 days a year, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate the diverse wildlife of our planet year-round.
