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Endangered species breed at Welsh farm 18/5/2004
Staff at Folly Farm in Begelly, Pembrokeshire are celebrating the birth of three black and white ruffed lemurs, the first of this species to be born at the zoo. The births occurred on Saturday, playing a welcome part in the European breeding programme for endangered species.
The triplets, named Harry, Ron and Neville after characters in ‘Harry Potter’, are the first offspring of Kirindi, the zoo’s only female black and white ruffed lemur. The births bring the zoo’s collection of these magnificent and highly endangered primates up to six.
Head zookeeper Tim Morphew stated, “I’m really pleased with them because they’re a good weight and Kirindi is a first time mum. She seems to be doing everything right.” This comes as quite a relief to Tim, who is still hand rearing one of the zoo’s ring tailed lemurs, Trelow, after his mother rejected him back in March.
Black and white ruffed lemurs are found in the wild only in Eastern Madagascar, and are becoming increasingly endangered due to the destruction of their rainforest habitat, poaching for meat and fur and commercial exportation. They are listed as endangered according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and there are only between 1000 and 10,000 left in the wild. When Harry, Ron and Neville mature they will be re-housed elsewhere to continue the important breeding programme.
Said Tim, “They’ll be sent off to other respectable zoos or collections to start their own groups and rear their own families, so we can continue increasing the population.”
Folly Farm staff are also delighted at the birth of two more ring tailed lemurs twins, also highly endangered, and prairie dog twins, all born over the weekend and yet to be named.
Folly Farm’s zoo has been open since 2002 and is rapidly expanding. The zoo is now home to both ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs, porcupine, prairie dogs, meerkats, llamas, wallabies, ostrich, oryx, zebra, mara, racoons, capybara, a Brazilian tapir and more.
Folly Farm’s other attractions include the Jolly Barn, where a variety of farm animals can be seen and stroked, the Old Time funfair, indoor and outdoor play, rare breeds of farm animal, tractor rides, go karts, bottle feeding baby goats, and spectacular shows.
Opening times are 10am- 5.30pm every day until 30th September, and 10am-5pm throughout October.
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