Last spring Taronga Western Plains Zoo welcomed three Ring-tailed Lemur babies to the breeding group. The babies are now over five months old with the oldest over six months old.
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This was the third successful year of breeding for the Zoo’s Ring-tailed Lemur group, a species which is quite difficult to breed due to the small window of 24 hours that the females will come into season.
All three babies have been doing really well over the past few months and meeting all their developmental milestones. Keepers couldn’t be happier with their progress and especially how all three mothers are so caring and nurturing towards their young.
“We are really happy with how all three mums are doing, they are all getting along really well together and are very relaxed around their babies and their keepers,” said Keeper Rachel Schildkraut.
The babies are now going out on to the Ring-tailed Lemur island, near the African Savannah Picnic Ground, for most of the day with their mothers and the rest of the group.
“The babies have developed in confidence, strength and agility and are exploring their island and the trees much more now,” said Rachel.
At present it is all about play for the babies and whilst they are almost fully weaned, they still like to stay close by their mothers.
“We are observing the babies more often interacting with the group and even moving around independently.”
The babies are now almost fully transitioned on to solids but will still occasionally drink from their mums.
“They are eating everything but banana is definitely a favourite,” said Rachel.
The babies still have a lot of growing and developing to do but by the time they are one year old they will be more reliant on the group as a whole rather than primarily their mothers.
“The babies will start being less and less concerned with where mum is and fully transition on to solids only,” said Rachel.
Magical Monday's
Every Monday in March our Meerkat keeper is sharing a photo from her day working with these amazing little animals. We'd love to hear your captions for these photos starting with this one! Ready, Set, Go!
New Arrivals
We've welcomed eight Greater Bilbies to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, ready to release into our 110-hectare conservation and breeding sanctuary here in Dubbo.
The four females and four males have undergone quarantine and health assessments and had tracking devices fitted before being transferred into pre-release yards. They will be released into the sanctuary in the next month.
