Critically endangered dancing lemur bred in UK zoo, a landmark moment

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Feb 09:46

After this successful attempt, zoos kickstarted the endangered species breeding program in European zoos.

Group of endangered dancing lemurs (Reuters)

A pair of lemur parents sent to Chester Zoo in the UK from a zoo in the US successfully bred a little dancing lemur, as part of a program designed to protect their species. The critically endangered species, as listed by the IUCN, has a decreased population of 30% in Madagascar in the past 30 years due to deforestation.

Mike Jordan, Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo, said, “The birth of a Coquerel’s sifaka in Europe is a real landmark moment for conservation and, importantly, has kickstarted the endangered species breeding program in European zoos for the species."

Jordan referred to the successful breeding as a "real lifeboat [ for the species]". It is actually the first time that a dancing lemur was born in Europe.

Mark Brayshaw, Curator of Mammals at Chester Zoo showed excitement to be the first team of conservationists in Europe to successfully breed this extremely rare primate.

Brayshow then assured that the baby lemur and its mother are doing great.

The sex of the baby has not yet been distinguished. It will be clearer once it starts to explore on its own. Soon enough, it will start to show its dancing movements and leap from one tree to another. For now, it is still riding on its mother's back.