Colchester Zoo Red Ruffed Lemur Baby

JamesB

JamesB

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
The baby was born on the 23rd April to mother Ruby and father Jess Jr and their keepers were really encouraged to find that they were both very protective and relaxed parents this time. Ruby, who was born at Kessingland Safari Park on the 17th May 2005, is now just about to turn three and with the support of Jess Jr who turns six also on the 17th May, has learnt to be an excellent parent. They have both been very attentive to the baby lemur and have managed to strike a good balance in their level of care as they have also maintained their trust of their keepers, allowing them access to the enclosure to see the baby.

The birth is excellent news for both Colchester Zoo and the species as not only is it Ruby and Jess Jr’s first baby together, it will be a new edition to the EEP European Breeding programme that they are a part of. Red Ruffed lemurs are considered to be a critically endangered sub-species of lemur.
 
It's good to see Colchester do post stuff like this on their website. With most zoos it's only the high profile births which get a mention.
 
yes, defintley, its good for such a rare species

i dont think ive ever heard of a red ruffed lemur birth for a while!
 
I think South Lakes have done well with the red ruffed lemurs, they usually have 2 or 3 born most years.
 
The EEP recommendation is not to breed red ruffed or black and white ruffed lemurs at the moment apart from the Belted ruffed which are of known origin.
 
Because of the unknown origin of a number of animals and due to hybridization between the reds and black and white in some cases early on in zoos.
 
I can confirm the posting by AI, the breeding of these 2 ruffed lemur forms is currently not recommended. All animals in my country live in singe-sex groups to avoid any reproduction.

Belted ruffed lemur = Varecia variegata subcincta (quite rare in zoos).
 
Belted ruffed lemurs are pretty rare i've heard. The only places i know hold them are Paris zoo and i believe there is three males and possibly one female at South Lakes
 
These are a few pics I have from Cologne Zoo
 

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Two red-ruffeds were recently born at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire and I believe a pair (or was it three) were born at Marwell(?).

The subspecies, V.v. variegata, V.v. subcintum and V.v. editorium are defined by differences in pelt colour but have yet to be fully recognised as subspecies (as far as I know). Though they've been referenced in some literature, they aren't current valid taxonomic names.
 
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