©Heather Tassler
April 15, 2021
For the Love of Lemurs
- as seen by -
Heather Tassler
Year-round, guests can visit Madagascar! at WCS’s Bronx Zoo where a number of different species of lemurs, including Coquerel’s sifaka, red-ruffed lemurs, mouse lemurs, collared lemurs, and ring-tailed lemurs, live in both tropical and desert surroundings. Our Spiny Forest exhibit features our collared and ring-tailed lemurs (above) and their offspring. During different times of day, these primates can be seen actively traveling across the branches and banks as well as periodically napping in family groups with their tails wrapped around like little scarves.
In this picture, Keela, a female ring-tailed lemur, is with her daughters Danares and Khalessi right after they awoke from a nap. Baby lemurs are very precocious and love playing and exploring. They also interact with the collared lemurs, radiated tortoises, and various birds in the Spiny Forest.
I enjoy working with ring-tailed lemurs. They are so curious about their surroundings and are entertaining to watch as they swing from various types of enrichment. Over the years, it has been amazing to see babies grow into adults and develop their own personalities which leads them to build trusting relationships with our keepers.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Registration is now open for the 13th annual WCS Run for the Wild run/walk at the Bronx Zoo. This year’s event is dedicated to lemurs. Run for the Wild has been reimagined for 2021 to meet social distancing and capacity protocols. It will take place at the Bronx Zoo on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Register at WCSRunForTheWild.org.
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