Halloween Pumpkins Surprise Endangered Ring-tailed Lemurs

A Halloween treat with a twist! This year, the ring-tailed lemurs at Knockhatch Adventure Park were in for a spooky surprise. As the Halloween season approaches, the park's primate residents, including the mischievous Popeye and his family, were gifted with carved pumpkins.

This unique enrichment activity not only provided the lemurs with a fun and engaging way to forage for their food but also offered visitors a fascinating glimpse into their natural behaviors. The troop, which includes adorable infant twins, eagerly explored the pumpkins, one of which contained a tasty morning meal of sweet potatoes.

Alana Lay-Flurrie, the zoo's 25-year-old supervisor, was thrilled to witness the lemurs' reactions. "This was their first encounter with pumpkins," she exclaimed. "The infants were particularly curious, though still too young to partake in the sweet potato feast."

Female ring-tailed lemurs typically reach maturity at three years old and give birth to one baby per year. However, twins are not uncommon. The infants cling to their mothers for the first six months of their lives until they are weaned and become independent.

As an endangered species, every lemur born in captivity plays a vital role in securing the future of these intelligent primates.