A tiny red ruffed lemur named Ony, explores his brand new world at the San Diego Zoo Primate Propagation Center with enormous eyes as his mom Morticia keeps a close eye on him. Ony, who was born on May 18, is the first of his rare and endangered breed to be born at the center in over 13 years.
The San Diego Zoo has a successful history of breeding red ruffed lemurs; in fact, we’ve had over 100 born since 1965. We can attribute this success to the Primate Propagation Center, a facility specifically designed for breeding lemurs. The center is where most of our prosimians are currently being housed, and also where the most recent member of our lemur family was born. On May 18, 2016, our red ruffed lemur Morticia gave birth to her first offspring. It has been 13 years since the last red ruffed lemur was born at San Diego Zoo, and excitement is in the air. …He has been gaining about one-third of an ounce (10 grams) a day and is getting more active and aware of his surroundings. Although he currently weighs only 6.6 ounces (188 grams), red ruffed lemur babies grow up fast. During his first month, we expect him to be exploring outside of his nest, with Morticia watching closely.
photo via San Diego Zoo
