Monarto Safari Park is celebrating the arrival of twin Ring-tailed Lemur pups, a rare surprise for the troop’s 16-year-old matriarch, Spindles.
Despite having only one ovary, Spindles has defied the odds to deliver two healthy pups, thrilling keepers and marking the start of what could be a baby boom at the park.
Hubert, the troop’s only male, is the father of the twins. They can already be spotted clinging tightly to their mother’s back as she moves through the Land of the Lemurs exhibit, the largest lemur habitat in Australia.
Keepers say several other females may also be expecting, although pregnancies in Ring-tailed Lemurs are notoriously difficult to detect until late in the term.
The arrivals are not only a joy for visitors, but also a meaningful win for conservation. Ring-tailed Lemurs are endangered in their native Madagascar, with fewer than 2,000 believed to remain in the wild due to habitat loss, hunting and the illegal pet trade.
“Every lemur pup born here is a symbol of hope for their wild cousins,” Primate Keeper Sarah Washford said.
Visitors can see the twins up close by booking a walk-through encounter at Land of the Lemurs, with proceeds supporting conservation efforts in Madagascar through Zoos SA’s partnership with the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group.
More details and bookings are available at monartosafari.com.au/lemurs.
