ATLANTA — Editor's Note: Zoo Atlanta has reported the baby lemur has died. Read the latest information here.
Zoo Atlanta is welcoming yet another to its family after announcing the birth of a newly endangered crowned lemur.
It was born on Monday to its mother, Sava, who is 10 years old.
“Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Sava’s infant. It is always a cause for celebration and hope when a population of an endangered species gains another member,” said Sam Rivera, Vice President of Animal Health.
According to a news release, lemurs are endangered and native to the northernmost tip of Madagascar, which is home to over 100 species of the animal.
Crowned lemurs are endangered because of habitat loss and fragmentation. Gold and sapphire mining and charcoal production are contributing to their endangerment.
They are also captured for the pet trade, but because they are primates, they are not the best pets.
The infant was safely returned to its mother after birth. Sava had a c-section, which is not normal for the species.
“While cesarean births (or c-sections) are not necessarily unusual for this species in human care, we are proud of our Animal Care and Veterinary Teams, who acted proactively to ensure the well-being of both Sava and her newborn," said Rivera.
Soon the zoo will be able to tell the baby lemur's gender once it develops its color. Gray with orange crowns will signify it is a female, and a darker red-brown color with black and orange crowns will signify it is a male.
You won't be able to see the lemur just yet when visiting, as Sava and her newborn are bonding behind the scenes. The zoo said in its news release that guests might be able to see the two in the coming days.
The baby lemur joins two other endangered species at the Living Treehouse -- the ringtailed and the black-and-white-ruffed lemurs.
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