New ring-tailed lemur born at zoo

The eight-week-old baby is yet to be named. Image: Peter Budd

Ring-tailed lemurs Roxy and Snout have a new addition to their family at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

The primate is just eight weeks old and lives on ring-tailed lemur island with her parents, siblings Warbie and Spike, and grandmother Ringlett.

Mel Gage, the zoo's assistant curator of mammals said: "Our ring-tailed lemurs are a very happy family and they all help look after the new arrival."

The zoo has launched a competition to name the female baby lemur.

The winner will have the chance to visit the zoo, meet the lemur keeper and receive a year's adoption of a ring-tailed lemur.

"Ring-tailed lemurs are among our most popular animals and are great fun to watch," added Mel.

"Their conservation status is classified as a 'vulnerable' so their births are important and we are really pleased with our new arrival."

The species is native only to the tropical dry and scrub forests of Southern Madagascar but their forest habitats are being destroyed by slash and burn agriculture, charcoal production and mining for gemstones and minerals.

To suggest a name for the new baby, visit the zoo's website for more information. The closing date for entries is 5 June 2009.