Crowned Lemur

April 15, 2017

Lincoln Park Zoo’s latest crowning glory is a crowned lemur infant, born on April 15 at the Helen Brach Primate House.

The lemur infant joins mother (Tucker), father (Sokkwi, pronounced so-kwee) and older siblings Lenny (male) and Volana (female), who all reside at the zoo. The sex and measurements of the infant are yet to be determined, as Tucker is keeping the newborn close. The dam and sire were recommended to breed as a part of the Crowned Lemur Species Survival Plan ® (SSP), which cooperatively manages threatened or endangered species within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), through the Population Management Center at Lincoln Park Zoo. This is the fourth crowned lemur birth at Lincoln Park Zoo.

“With any birth, our animal care staff carefully monitors the new arrival to ensure they are passing critical milestones,” says Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy. “Tucker is an attentive and experienced mother, and the infant is holding tight to her and regularly nursing, which is exactly what we’d hope to see.”

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN), crowned lemurs are considered endangered due to forest loss caused by slash-and-burn practices, habitat fragmentation, charcoal production, mining and other human-wildlife conflict.

Native to Madagascar, these primates are named after the gold crown-like coloration on their heads. These active lemurs forage at all levels of the forest canopy for fruits and leaves, using their 17-18 inch tails to help balance and move swiftly through the trees. 

The lemur troop, including Tucker and the new baby, are currently on exhibit at the Helen Brach Primate House, which is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.