The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo in Calgary, Alberta, announced that resident four-year-old female black-and-white ruffed lemur, Eny, gave birth to a pup. The pup’s father is eight-year-old Menabe. At just over one month old, the pup—whose sex has not yet been confirmed—appears active and is moving around more each day. Eny is displaying all the appropriate lemur behaviors as she spends time bonding with her baby.  

Eny was paired with Menabe as part of a Species Survival Plan® breeding recommendation. Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoos, like the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, take part in SSP breeding programs, along with other accredited zoos and aquariums, to maximize the genetic diversity of the population in human care, appropriately manage the demographic distribution, and support the long-term sustainability of a species at risk.

“When Menabe arrived here in 2017, the hunt for a suitable female began,” said Colleen Baird, interim associate director of animal care and welfare. “But because the zoo-managed North American population of black-and-white ruffed lemurs was fairly small with decreasing genetic diversity, we needed to broaden our search to infuse new genetics into the population.”

This mission to find an ideal mate for Menabe led the team to an accredited zoo in the Czech Republic where Eny was residing. Following her arrival in Calgary in 2021, Eny and Menabe have proven to be a good match—this is the first successful pup for the pair, and the first black-and-white ruffed lemur to be born at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo since 1987. 

“The successful birth is especially exciting and important for Eny and Menabe’s species,” said Dr. Typhenn Brichieri-Colombi, conservation research and strategy advisor at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. “With black-and-white ruffed lemurs being critically endangered in the wild, this pup already plays an important role in the survival and well-being of its species.” 

Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are from Madagascar, where there are fewer than 10,000 individuals estimated to be left in their native range. A staggering 98 percent of lemurs in Madagascar are endangered, with more than 30 percent facing the threat of imminent extinction. The black-and-white ruffed lemur is listed among the 25 most endangered primates in the world due largely to habitat loss and hunting. 

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has worked to protect three lemur species in Kianjavato, Madagascar, since 2017. The collaborative program with the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership and the University of Calgary engages local communities in reforestation activities, planting future habitats for lemurs while improving local livelihoods.  

Photos Credit: © The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo