Fota Wildlife Park welcomes five lemur babies — and they want your help to name them

The birth of the endangered lemur babies marks a major milestone for Fota Wildlife

One of the newborn baby Ring-tailed lemurs in Fota Wildlife Park, Cork. Picture: Darragh Kane

Thu, 02 May, 2024 - 10:14

Maeve Lee

Fota Wildlife Park has announced the arrival of five Ring-tailed lemur babies — and they’re asking for the public’s help with naming them.

The birth of the endangered lemur babies marks a major milestone for Fota as the new additions expand their group of Ring-tailed lemurs to 14.

Merlot, a four-year-old lemur who joined Fota Wildlife Park in 2022, is the father of all the newborns. The mothers are Quinta, Aqua, Brida, and Dolly (known as DC).

DC was the first to give birth on March 22, closely followed by Aqua who had twins on March 24. Seven-year-old Brida delivered her baby on March 25, and most recently, ten-year-old Quinta gave birth on April 9.

Fota Wildlife Park has announced the recent arrival of five endangered Ring-tailed lemur babies to the free-range troop. Picture: Darragh Kane

Lead Ranger, Teresa Power said the new arrivals mark "a momentous occasion” for Fota.

"As a relatively new breeding group, we are thrilled to witness the successful reproduction within our lemur group, signifying their adaptation and settlement into their habitat here at Fota,” she said.

“Ring-tailed lemurs are synonymous with Fota Wildlife Park and have been present since we opened the gates over 40 years ago. They are a free-roaming species so they don’t have a specific habitat and can go where they please around the Palm Walk Islands.”

Lemurs are endemic to the island of Madagascar and Ring-tailed lemurs are currently classified as endangered. Recent reports suggest that there has been a 95% reduction in the wild population of Ring-tailed lemurs since 1990, with 3000 Ring-tailed lemurs remaining in the wild.

As the babies continue to nurse and bond closely with their mothers, Teresa Power said their genders remain undetermined. That is until they are old enough to be carefully health-checked by the Fota Wildlife animal care team and weighed.

“Visitors can catch glimpses of the free-range troop as they explore Palm Walk, indulging in fresh leaves and buds, or seeking shelter in their purpose-built house within the Madagascan village. The lemurs' playful antics, including jockey-style rides on their mothers' backs, are entertaining our visitors and primate team alike!”

Dublin Zoo is delighted to welcome male hippopotamus, Ernie, who joins female Heidi at the African Plains. Picture: Patrick Bolger

Meanwhile at Dublin Zoo, Ernie the hippopotamus is settling into the African Plains.

The 20-year-old hippopotamus will be introduced to fellow hippo Heidi, who Dublin Zoo says has already been showing great interest in the new arrival.

Hippopotamuses are one of the heaviest animals on earth, sometimes weighing up to three and a half tonnes. They are mostly found across Sub-Saharan Africa in shallow lakes, rivers and swamps.

Helen Clarke, team leader at Dublin Zoo said they are thrilled to welcome Ernie.

"It has been great to see Heidi taking such an interest in him already and we know visitors will enjoy seeing Ernie grazing in his outdoor habitat and enjoying the indoor pool. Hippopotamuses have always been popular with visitors at Dublin Zoo, and we look forward to hearing their unique honking and grunting across the African Plains.”