Rare lemur quadruplets born at zoo

By Dean Murray

A Devon wildlife charity is celebrating a "baby boom" following the birth of four critically endangered red-ruffed lemurs.

Shaldon Wildlife Trust welcomed quadruplets, born on May 4 to mother Eka and father Nero, and says it represents a significant milestone for the European breeding program.

While twins are common for this species, quadruplets are an incredible rarity, occurring in fewer than 6% of births worldwide.

The newborns are part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) breeding programme, a vital Europe-wide effort to ensure the survival of red-ruffed lemurs, which are only found in a small area in the northeast of Madagascar.

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Rare lemur quadruplets born at zoo

As well as being part of the program, Shaldon Wildlife Trust directly supports the protection of these animals in the wild through its field conservation partner, the Lemur Conservation Association (AEECL).

The news comes after the Trust was featured in National Geographic as one of the top zoos globally dedicated to conservation, further cementing the small zoo’s role in global wildlife preservation.

"To have four healthy infants at once is a real testament to the care our team provides," says Zak Showell, Director, "We’ve had a lot of excitement recently with the National Geographic coverage, but there is nothing quite like the arrival of 'quads' to remind us why we do what we do. It’s a huge win for the species and a proud moment for Shaldon."

Red-ruffed lemurs are endangered due to habitat loss from agriculture, logging and hunting in Madagascar.