ZOO Planckendael in Mechelen has a new resident among its black lemurs, the park announced on Monday. This is the second lemur born in two years for its parents, Kimmie the mother and Oreo the father.
The sex of the newborn has not yet been determined as the baby remains constantly attached to its mother. The animal's gender will soon be known, depending on the colour of its fur.
Black lemurs or macaco lemurs are monkeys that are only found in the wild in Madagascar and some of its surrounding islands. The species is threatened by deforestation, poaching and illegal trade. Every birth in captivity is therefore good news for the species, explains the zoo, which is involved in the international programme for the preservation of the species. A population ‘reserve’ can be established in case the species becomes extinct in the wild.
Credit: ZOO Planckendael
“Black lemurs initially have a dark coat, but this can change colour up to eight weeks after birth,” says Elke, a caretaker at Planckendael. “A female adopts a coppery colour with white feathers on her ears, while the male remains black. As soon as the sex of the cub is known, the youngster will be given a name.
The baby currently has a grey-black coat, the perfect colour for camouflage according to Elke. The zoo is still looking for a name that will begin with the letter "Y", as with all of the newborns born in the year of 2023 and is holding a vote on their Instagram to choose between the names Yoefi and Yoki for a male or Yuna and Yucca for a female.
