Meet Zoo’s Newest Babies

By The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Jun. 8–The Sacramento Zoo introduced new residents to the public last week — three baby lemurs born April 23 to proud parents.

One female and two male black-and-white ruffed lemurs were born to the 7-year-old parents, zoo officials said. The first-time mother is doing well and taking good care of her children, officials said.

Ruffed lemurs place their newborns in a nest, unlike most primates, whose offspring cling to their bodies. The infants begin moving around on their own after three weeks. After seven weeks, they follow their mother out when she hunts for food.

Lemurs are endangered, zoo officials said. Loss of habitat and food resources, forest fires, clearing of land for agriculture and hunting have all contributed to curtailing thelemur population.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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