Cotswold Wildlife Park successfully breeds endangered Madagascar lemur

The Cotswold Wildlife Park has successfully bred one of Madagascar's most endangered lemurs.

The as-yet-unnamed youngster was born to a breeding male, Raphael, and a female, Bijou, at the wildlife park.

Births of the greater bamboo lemur in captivity are extremely rare, and the park is the only zoological collection in the UK (and one of two worldwide) to have bred the species this year.

Only 36 greater bamboo lemurs are in captivity worldwide and they are classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Only seven other zoological collections in the world house greater bamboo lemurs.

Both parents are part of a European breeding program and this is the fourth consecutive year that the park has managed to breed these primates.

The newcomer, whose sex is still unknown, can be seen exploring his enclosure inside the Madagascar lemur exhibit.

Jamie Craig, general manager of the Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: “Lemur species in Madagascar are under tremendous pressure from the destruction of their habitat and the rapid increase in the human population. It is important that we raise awareness about this unique group of primates before it is too late.

“At Cotswold Wildlife Park, we are committed to conserving this species and fund an extremely important site in Madagascar, as well as being involved in a number of other conservation projects with the Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust.

“We are very privileged to keep these two species in the park – they are extremely rare in captivity and are fantastic ambassadors for our fundraising efforts.”