Shaldon Wildlife Trust in Devon is marking the extraordinary arrival of red-ruffed lemur quadruplets, a rare event that has captivated staff and visitors alike. Zak Showell, the trust’s director, described the newborns as “just so, so cute but so, so special at the same time.”

The red-ruffed lemur is classified as critically endangered, with wild populations confined to a small region in northeastern Madagascar. The birth of four infants at once is exceptionally uncommon, happening in less than 6% of lemur births globally. The babies were born on May 4 to parents Eka and Nero and are part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ coordinated breeding program.

Showell praised the team’s efforts, calling the birth a “huge success and a testament to the hard work that the team do looking after and caring for our animals.” He noted that Eka, an experienced mother who has raised three previous litters, is well-prepared for the task. “We leave her to it ... this is actually her fourth set of offspring that she's ever had so she knows what she's doing,” Showell explained. “But we make sure that we give her extra food to keep her energy reserves up.”

The infants are developing rapidly for their age. The head keeper reported that the month-old lemurs are very active, with one already attempting to nibble on solid food. “Their progression is so so quick in comparison to many other animals,” Showell observed.

Despite the supportive environment, Eka remains highly protective of her young. Showell pointed out that while Nero, their two older sons from previous years, and other family members remain in the habitat, Eka actively keeps them away from the newborns.

The quadruplets will reside at the zoo for several years, learning essential behaviors from their parents. Eventually, they may be transferred to other zoological institutions to further the breeding program. In addition to its captive breeding initiatives, Shaldon Wildlife Trust supports wild lemur conservation through its partnership with the Lemur Conservation Association.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 05:15:35 UTC