Santa Ana : Zoo Displays 3 Baby Ruffled Lemurs

Three endangered black and white ruffled lemur babies that were born recently at the Santa Ana Zoo are now on display with their parents, zoo officials said Friday.

The births are part of the American Assn. of Zoological Parks and Aquariums’ Species Survival Program, which is designed to prevent extinction of endangered animals.

The three babies, a male and two females, will remain on display until they reach sexual maturity, in about 20 months. Later, they will be placed in other zoos as part of the breeding program, said Director Ron Glazier.

The birth of the lemurs in May was the zoo’s first for the rare primate. The black and white ruffled lemur is one of 30 primate species found only on the island of Madagascar. The number of lemurs in the wild is unknown but estimated at less than 5,000. Worldwide, there are fewer than 700 displayed in zoos.

The zoo is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $3 for people 13 and older, $1 for seniors and children 3 to 12.