Endangered lemur born at David Traylor Zoo in Emporia

EMPORIA (KSNT) — An endangered lemur was born at Emporia’s David Traylor Zoo Tuesday.

According to a release from the City of Emporia, the zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs, Nova and Oscar, welcomed their newborn daughter on April 9, 2024. A spokesperson for the City of Emporia told 27 News the infant lemur does not have a name yet, but she is healthy and under the watch of Animal Care Specialists at the zoo.

“Nova is doing an excellent job caring for her infant—being very attentive, grooming her, and nursing is going well,” Elizabeth Brannan, Animal Care Manager, said in the release. The birth of this lemur gives the David Traylor Zoo’s Animal Care Specialists an opportunity to learn more about the lemur’s endangered species.

You can see the ring-tailed lemur infant and the rest of the troop in their habitat during normal zoo hours, according to the press release. The infant will become more independent over the next few months, though she will still return to her mother for nursing and rest until she is weaned, which typically happens at around five to six months.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the ring-tailed lemur as an endangered species. According to the press release, the species’ endangered status is primarily due to habitat destruction, hunting, and illegal wildlife trade.

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