Fota Wildlife Park has announced the birth of 3 baby Lemurs. Photo: Michael O'Sullivan/OSM PHOTO

Ready for some ‘ruffed’ and tumble?

The Fota Wildlife family has been extended once again with the birth of 3 baby lemurs announced today.

The critically endangered black and white ruffed lemur babies are sure to prove a handful for mum Cloud and father Paraic.

The babies, whose gender is still unknown, were born in Fota Wildlife Park on 19 June after a gestation period of 102 days.

Fota Wildlife Park is now asking for the public’s help in naming the babies by visiting fotawildlife.ie/news. Those entering will be in with a chance to win a year-long pass to the park.

Senior Ranger Cathriona Ni Scanaill said staff are delighted with the new arrivals and said the park’s ongoing success with the critically endangered species indicates how happy and healthy these primates are at Fota.

She said: “Cloud is a very experienced mother who takes it all in her stride. The 3 youngsters so far seem very confident and active. Most days, they play in the tunnel leading onto their island habitat.”

Ruffed lemurs are an unusual lemur species that display very primitive primate behaviour including building nests in which to give birth to their young. The young are almost naked at birth and cannot cling to their mother, as other primates do. The female will often carry the young in her mouth instead.

Ruffed lemurs are also the world’s largest pollinator. When the ruffed lemur feeds on nectar, by sticking its long nose deep into the flower, its snout becomes coated with pollen which is then transported to other flowers.

All lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and are now considered to be one of the most threatened mammal families on earth. Less than 250 Black and white ruffed lemurs remain in the wild today.

Madagascar is considered a highly unique biodiversity hotspot with more than 80% of all its flora and fauna found nowhere else on the planet. Today, deforestation, hunting and illegal trade in wildlife pose huge threats to its wildlife.

In 2019, Fota Wildlife Park opened the Madagascan Village to highlight the plight of the Madagascan ecosystems and biodiversity and to educate the public on the need for conservation globally.