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Youngster monkeys around at Bristol Zoo Gardens

 

A cheeky baby ring-tailed lemur is the latest arrival to be born at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

 

Warbie the baby lemurThe young primate is just seven weeks old and lives on ting-tailed lemur island along with her mum, Roxy, and three other adult ring-tailed lemurs at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

 

Named Warbie by her keepers, the lemur is happiest when climbing the trees on the island, riding piggyback on one of the adults' back, or sleeping in the sun.

 

Mel Gage, assistant curator of mammals at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said Warbie was a great addition to the lemurs at home in the Zoo. She said: "We are thrilled with our latest new arrival. Ring-tailed lemurs are among our most popular animals and are also classified as 'vulnerable', so their births are important.

 

"The four adult ring-tailed lemurs are keeping a close eye on the youngster, but she is getting more adventurous and can already be seen monkeying around in the bushes and trees on lemur island. Our visitors also love them as they look very cute but can also be very mischievous and therefore highly entertaining to observe."

 

Ring-tailed lemurs are native only to the tropical dry and scrub forests of Southern Madagascar. With a population of between 10,000 and 100,000 left on the island, they are considered a vulnerable species. The forest in which they live is being destroyed by slash and burn agriculture, charcoal production and mining for gemstones and minerals.

 

Ring tailed lemurs are distinguished by their wide-round eyes and white and black, long banded tails. They eat fruit, leaves, flowers and nectar, are excellent climbers and can live to around 20-years-old in captivity.