The small baby represents a success for this species, which the IUCN classifies as endangered.
Learning the special movement abilities that characterize its species, a small lemur, barely three weeks old, has begun to explore its surroundings at Loro Parque. This baby holds immense value for a species for which each birth brings a little more hope against extinction. The birth has been great news at the park located in Puerto de la Cruz, as it confirms the well-being of the animals and the importance of the conservation efforts to which Loro Parque’s Animal Embassy is committed.
The numbers provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the most authoritative voice in this field, place these primates native to Madagascar in the danger zone in the grim ranking of species threatened with extinction. It is estimated that only around 2,500 individuals remain in the wild today. This is an incredibly small number, especially when compared to the nearly 23,000 people who can fit in a football stadium like the Heliodoro.
The little lemur, who can already be seen in its habitat at Loro Parque, is almost an exact miniature replica of its parents. With a size no larger than a soda can, it already displays the characteristic black and white rings of its species and the extraordinary golden eyes that have made them one of the most admired and beloved animals.
Equipped with great agility, prehensile fingers, and opposable thumbs, they are omnivores and strictly diurnal. With their friendly appearance and wet snout, they are highly sociable animals. It is common to see them grouped together in “lemur balls,” huddling to protect their young and keep them warm.
The new resident of Loro Parque has quickly become the star of the group of lemurs living in the Jungle area, with its tiny ringed tail and playful exercises that, for the first time, occasionally take it away from its protective mother. A source of fun for its brothers and sisters, as well as entertainment for its attentive parents and the rest of the community.