Jacksonville Zoo announces birth of another furry friend

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the birth of one of the world’s most endangered primates: a blue-eyed, black lemur infant!

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This is the second successful birth of a blue-eyed black lemur at the zoo, both from parents Hendricks and Hemsworth. The gender of the baby is currently unknown as the keepers are giving the monkey family space in this critical time in lemur development.

The infant will remain behind-the-scenes in a quiet area with its parents until it is old enough to safely join the rest of the group.

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Blue-eyed black lemurs are one of only a few primates who have blue eyes. Males in the species are black while the females are a rusty brown color. When in infancy, the blue-eyed black lemurs are a brown color that blends in with their mother. Over time, they will develop darker coloring, turning black if they are males.

Blue-eyed black lemurs are critically endangered, and every birth of this species is critical to their long-term sustainability. The wild population’s continued decline is based on a series of issues, including habitat loss. Madagascar is the only place lemurs are found. It is estimated that there will be an 88% reduction in the population by 2080 due to climate change alone.

For more information on the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens or for baby updates, visit the official website HERE.

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