Two critically endangered lemurs have taken up home at the Curraghs Wildlife Park as part of an important European breeding programme.
The Alaotran gentle lemurs are settling into their new surroundings and visitors will be able to meet them during the Easter holidays.
In the wild, the primates are threatened by extinction with less than 2,500 thought to be left, primarily in a small region of their native Madagascar.
Kathleen Graham, the Park’s General Manager, said:
‘We’re really pleased to have this amazing species back at the Park, as it needs our help more than ever.
‘We are also excited to be involved in the breeding programme and collect data that can help the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), who we support through our conservation fund, to protect them in the wild.’
The lemurs arrived from Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands at the weekend as part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) programme, which sees member zoos work together to maintain ‘healthy populations of healthy animals’. The Isle of Man Steam Packet kindly assisted the Park with the final leg of their journey.
EAZA are currently sourcing female partners for the two males called Bam and Bacca.
The Curraghs Wildlife Park is now open daily from 9:30am to 5pm with more than 60 species of animals and birds to meet, play spaces, a café, and a ride on model railway.
Two special Easter Family Fun days will also be held at the Park on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 April with additional games, crafts and face painting, hosted by Crossroads.
