Fota Wildlife Park have asked for the public to help name three new baby lemurs which were born there earlier this year.
The three baby lemurs, whose gender is still unknown, were born on June 19 after a gestation period of 102 days and are the critically endangered black and white ruffed species.
The Park are delighted with the new arrivals, particularly as part of their breeding and management programmes are proving to be working.
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In 2019, Fota Wildlife Park opened the Madagascan Village to highlight the plight of the Madagascan ecosystems and biodiversity that are under severe threat and to educate the public on the need for conservation globally - with 90% of native cover being lost on the African country.
All lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and are now considered to be one of the most threatened mammal families on earth, with 79 of the 81 species considered by the IUCN to be in danger of extinction.
Fota Wildlife Park is home to three species of lemur, the Black and white ruffed lemur, Ring-tailed lemur, and Red-bellied lemur.
Senior Ranger Cathriona Ni Scanaill said: "We are delighted with the birth of three new Black and white ruffed lemur babies. Having ongoing success with this critically endangered species indicates how happy and healthy these primates are at Fota.
"Cloud is a very experienced mother who takes it all in her stride. The three youngsters so far seem very confident and active. Most days, they play in the tunnel leading onto their island habitat.”
Though the gender of the new arrivals is not yet known, the public can enter individual name suggestions into a form on the blog at www.fotawildlife.ie/news and be in with a chance of winning one of three year-long Conservation Annual Passes.
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