Rare lemur born at San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Zoo has announced the birth of a rare red ruffed lemur, an endangered tiny primate species that in nature is only found on the island of Madagascar.

The male lemur with big black eyes and Teddy Bear-ears was born on May 18 at the zoo’s Primate Propagation Center.

Primate keeper Kristen Watkins says the infant is being well cared for by its first-time mother, named Morticia. The baby weighs more than 6 ounces, gaining about a third of an ounce a day, indicating it is successfully nursing.

The zoo has bred more than 100 red ruffed lemurs since 1965, but it had been 13 years since the last birth.

The red ruffed lemurs will be seen when the San Diego Zoo opens a new exhibit area next year.