SASKATOON — The morning of May 6 was a special day at Saskatoon Forest Farm Park and Zoo as Lucy, a ring-tailed lemur, welcomed a new baby. At five days old, Lucy’s baby was announced to the public on May 10, with proud dad Ringo watching from a distance.
Jeff Mitchell, zoo manager, said that mom Lucy is doing great and the baby is exhibiting all of the major milestones they had hoped to see.
This is the very first lemur birth in Saskatoon, and the zoo is thrilled to have generated a next generation. Mitchell said everyone at the zoo is ecstatic and this is an exciting addition for them and the community
“We have not identified if it’s a boy or girl yet, because we are allowing time for mom and baby to bond, and will select a name in the coming weeks.”
The infant ring-tailed lemur will cling to their mother’s belly for the first few weeks then move to a more jockey-style hold on their mother’s back, before becoming more independent.
Mitchell expressed elation when talking of Lucy celebrating her first Mother’s Day this weekend, which will allow some treats of her favourite foods of fruits and vegetables.
The zoo has consulted vets and specialists to help guide them along in this exciting journey, keeping both mother and baby well.
Once everyone is assured mother and baby are doing well, they will be allowed to go outside.
Ring-tailed lemurs are native to southwestern Madagascar and are classified as endangered, considered to be the most endangered mammal group in the world.
The ring-tailed lemur family is located in the Small Mammal House at the Zoo, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can learn more about the lemurs and other animals by visiting www.saskatoon.ca/zoo
