ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta shared some heartbreaking news on Thursday after an endangered crowned baby lemur that was recently born died.
The infant was born on Monday to its mother, Sava, who is 10 years old.
"We are heartbroken," the zoo said after announcing the death in a Facebook post.
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.
The zoo added in its Facebook post that infant mortality is common among lemur species in the wild and under human care. They stated that newborn lemurs are fragile, especially in the first few days of their lives.
"We are saddened that we will not have the opportunity to watch this infant grow along with you, and are additionally devastated to lose a new member of an endangered species," officials added in the post. "Our thoughts are with our Primate Team, whose dedication and hard work make the loss of this new addition all the more difficult."
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.
