Gentle Giant
Well-Known Member
They usually skulk around forests on an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.
But are ring-tailed lemurs loving life in the wilds of Doncaster?
The Free Press has received a number of phone calls from excited readers saying they have spotted ring-tailed lemurs dashing around woodland close to Robin Hood Airport.
Lemurs, a primate instantly recognisable because of its distinctive black and white tail, hail from the island of Madagascar and appeared in the animated 2005 film, starring Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer, of the same name.
But they are no strangers to Doncaster.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Branton, houses seven of the ring-tailed variety but, with park chiefs insisting none of its animals have escaped, it is a mystery where this stray lemur appeared from.
Wildlife lover Glen Ward, from Bessacarr, is certain that he clocked the lemur at about 3.30am near Hurst Lane when taking his wife to Robin Hood.
He said: "We knew straight away it was a lemur.
"My wife is a season ticket holder at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and goes there regularly with our granddaughter - so we know what a lemur looks like."
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, formerly known as Brockholes Farm, opened in April after bringing a whole host of animals from around the world to Doncaster.
Neville Williams, operations manager at the park, said "We do regular checks on the lemurs every day, as we do with all our animals, and they're all standing there quite happily."
Mr Williams added the lemur enclosure also had specially designed fences to stop them escaping.
Have you spotted the lemur on the loose? Call the Free Press on (01302) 347264 or send your pictures to editorial@doncastertoday.co.uk
Source: Doncaster Free Press
But are ring-tailed lemurs loving life in the wilds of Doncaster?
The Free Press has received a number of phone calls from excited readers saying they have spotted ring-tailed lemurs dashing around woodland close to Robin Hood Airport.
Lemurs, a primate instantly recognisable because of its distinctive black and white tail, hail from the island of Madagascar and appeared in the animated 2005 film, starring Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer, of the same name.
But they are no strangers to Doncaster.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Branton, houses seven of the ring-tailed variety but, with park chiefs insisting none of its animals have escaped, it is a mystery where this stray lemur appeared from.
Wildlife lover Glen Ward, from Bessacarr, is certain that he clocked the lemur at about 3.30am near Hurst Lane when taking his wife to Robin Hood.
He said: "We knew straight away it was a lemur.
"My wife is a season ticket holder at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and goes there regularly with our granddaughter - so we know what a lemur looks like."
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, formerly known as Brockholes Farm, opened in April after bringing a whole host of animals from around the world to Doncaster.
Neville Williams, operations manager at the park, said "We do regular checks on the lemurs every day, as we do with all our animals, and they're all standing there quite happily."
Mr Williams added the lemur enclosure also had specially designed fences to stop them escaping.
Have you spotted the lemur on the loose? Call the Free Press on (01302) 347264 or send your pictures to editorial@doncastertoday.co.uk
Source: Doncaster Free Press