Penny is our white fronted lemur. She is a favorite among all the keepers at the park. She is very shy but loves bananas.

Family – Lemuridae

Origin- Lemurs are only found on the island of Madagascar. White fronted brown Lemurs are found on the north eastern side of the island. They like the moist lowland and montane rainforest. They are arboreal spending most of their time in the upper layers of the forest. They are also diurnal meaning they are most active during the morning and early evening.

Lifespan- 20-25 years and in captivity up to 36 years.

Diet- In the wild they survive on a diet of fruit, flowers, flower seeds, leaves and nectar. In captivity they get fruit, vegetables and a leaf eater pellet.

Description- The white-headed lemur is a medium-sized lemur. It has a long furry tail which is slightly longer than the body itself. Lemurs use their tail to maintain their balance as they land from leaping at a considerable distance. Males are greyish brown and are lighter than the females which are a reddish-brown colour. The males have a bushy white mane which makes them easy to distinguish from females who do not have a mane. They are arboreal spending most of their time in the upper layers of the forest. They are also diurnal meaning they are most active during the morning and early evening.

Gestation- 27 days, breeding season is from April to June with single babies born between August and October. Babies are weaned at six months.

Conservation- The White fronted Lemur is classified as endangered in the wild. The remaining numbers in the wild are unknown. Their populations are rapidly declining through the lost of their forest habitat. Females are not usually dominant to males. They form multi-male multi-female groups. Depending on populations, the size of the groups can vary.