On your next visit to the Zoo, come say hi to four new bright-eyed faces in Toucan Ridge!

Rusty (male, 11), Ruby (female, 13), Lasonia (female, 11), and Lily (female, 14) are a group of ring-tailed lemurs who transferred from the Toronto Zoo. Ruby is Rusty’s mom and Lily is Lasonia’s mom!

Their move was on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan® for ring-tailed lemurs. These plans help accredited zoos maintain healthy populations of animals in human care, many of which are species at risk. The Zoo has not had ring-tailed lemurs since 2011, so we are excited to have them back here once more.

All the lemurs have adjusted well to their new habitat.

Their favourite foods are grapes, bananas, and figs. The animal care professionals who work with the ring-tailed lemurs noticed that when they eat fruit, they tilt their heads back, so they don’t lose any of the juice!

Here are some interesting facts about ring-tailed lemurs:

• They are native to Madagascar and are endangered due to habitat loss, degradation, and population fragmentation.
• They spend around 40 percent of their time on the ground and like to sunbathe, assuming a rather comical yoga-like position with their limbs outstretched and bellies facing the warmth of the sun.
• Their name comes from the 13 alternating black and white bands on their tails.
• One of the ways they communicate is through scent. They have scent glands on their wrists and chests and use them to mark their foraging routes.
• Ring-tailed lemurs can live up to16-19 years in the wild and 20-25 years in human care.
• If you visit the lemurs and think of King Julien from the animated movie Madagascar, you’d be right – he is a ring-tailed lemur! However, the other lemurs in the movie are different species. Also, the lemur from the children’s show Zoboomafoo is not a ring-tailed lemur, he is a Coquerel’s sifaka lemur.

Learn more about all the animals in Toucan Ridge on our website.