Al Ain: If you enjoyed watching the lemurs on the animation film Madagascar, then you might want to visit the Al Ain Zoo to see the new addition of a family of lemurs.
Brought into the zoo through a joint collaboration with Al Bustan Zoological Centre in Sharjah, the family of five are the first of their kind at the park.
Native only to Madagascar, these animals are classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to their dwindling numbers in the wild. They are intelligent, playful and inquisitive primates that are sure to be a hit with children and their parents at the zoo. The zoo has prepared a custom-made enclosure for the lemurs with entertainment to suit their actual behaviour in the wild.
“Visitors can interact with the animals in large open mixed exhibits that are close to their natural habitat,” said Muna Al Dhaheri, Chief of Conservation and Education.
As a routine procedure, Al Ain Zoo places any new animals joining the zoo for a minimum of 30 days in quarantine. The primates were placed in quarantine for a period of 45 days to ensure their safety and rule out any medical problems and diseases.
Lemurs, known for their distinctive long tails coated with black spirals, have several shades of brown covering their thick fur. Unlike other tree-climbing primates, lemurs prefer spending their time playing and resting on the ground. Their basic diet consists of vegetables, fruits, small mammals, and insects, which provides them with the needed proteins and carbohydrates. Lemurs’ lifespan ranges between 16 and 19 years in the wild, but can live up to 20 years.
