A critically endangered primate, nicknamed the dancing lemur because of the way it moves, has been bred for the first time in Europe, a zoo has said.
Chester Zoo said the birth of the baby Coquerel’s sifaka was a “landmark moment for the species”. A representative said the “precious youngster” arrived to parents Beatrice and Elliot 18 months after the duo were translocated from the US.
The species is only found in the wild in the treetops of north-west Madagascar and had suffered an 80% decline in the last 30 years due to widespread deforestation. They are distinguishable from other lemurs because of the way they move, maintaining an upright posture and spring side to side along the floor on their back legs.
The new arrival weighed 4oz (119g) and would be clinging tightly to its mother’s belly “for several weeks, before riding on her back like a backpack until around six months old”, they said.
Congratulations to all concerned … 
Previously:
