In the space of three months, Africa Alive has experienced three high profile births that are all coincidentally from black and white animals.
Lemurs, a zebra and monkeys have all made surprise appearances as the zoo in Kessingland in time for the summer holidays.
The first to be born were twin black lemurs back in April. Completely dependent on their mum for the first two to three months of their life, they are only now just starting to explore their island home - a perfect time to spot them if you are heading to the zoo this summer.
Although males are a different colour to females, males are born the same colour as the female with their fur turning black within five to six weeks as this helps camouflage babies while they are young and clinging to mum’s fur.
Although lemur parents Dylan and Marlien are not new to parenthood, this is the first time that they have ever produced twins.
This species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to their geographic range being severely fragmented and undergoing continuing decline in area and quality of habitat.
The second birth was a Chapman’s zebra born on June 12 to mother Sage and father Max. Father Max came from Schwerin Zoo in Germany, back in July 2013 and his mother Sage was born at Africa Alive.
Born after a gestation period lasting twelve months, the foal, named Parsley, can be seen with his parents and the other zebra herd on the newly adapted four acre ‘Plains of Africa’ experience alongside giraffe, white rhino, blesbok and ostrich.
Three days after the birth of the zebra, on June 15, staff were overjoyed to welcome a new addition to the parks growing family of King Colobus monkeys.
At birth, Colobus monkeys are covered in white fur that is gradually replaced with black hair matching the adults. The young are not very agile to begin with and are carried around for some time, with the female primarily responsible for its care. As the babes are carried around by mum Ebony, it is difficult to determine the gender of the baby and therefore, the new addition still doesn’t have a name.
This rare primate from the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa is considered to be highly endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting by humans.
There are very few zoos within Europe that keep this species and none outside of Europe, so this is yet another important addition to the park and will play a crucial role in assisting with the European breeding programme for this species.
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