Shaldon Wildlife Trust will becelebrating a milestone birthday for Ricky the ring-tailed lemur who turns 30 on 6th March, making him the oldest resident at the zoo based in Shaldon, Devon. He will be celebrating with his partner, Sally, and their 2 older daughters Denny and Bianca alongside all the keepers and volunteers at the zoo.
Ricky born on 6th March 1995 at Bristol Zoo has lived at Shaldon Wildlife Trust since 1996 when he came from Bristol Zoo with his fellow ring-tailed lemurs, Robbie and Shamus. In 2000 he lived with 2 female ring-tailed lemurs, Petra and Sally, and it has been true love since then with Ricky and Sally still living together today. Together with Sally he’s had 19 offspring that now live in zoos across the UK. He also boasts 70 grand lemurs and 6 great grand lemurs.
His longevity is a testament to the exceptional care provided by the dedicated team at the Trust, as well as advancements in husbandry, welfare and veterinary science that support the health and well-being of animals in zoos.
“Reaching 30 years is an incredible achievement for a ring-tailed lemur,” said Zak Showell, Director. “In the wild, lemurs typically live to around 15-20 years. He certainly doesn’t show his age and still bounces around like a lemur of 20 years old. Ricky’s resilience and vitality are truly extraordinary, and we’re so proud to have him as a part of our conservation family.”
Well loved by the entire team at the zoo, Ricky is also one of the many animals that junior keepers get to meet and learn about and over the years its estimated he’s met well over a 1000 people during these experiences, a vital tool for engaging people on the plight of the species in the wild.
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is an iconic species native to the island of Madagascar, where it faces critical threats due to habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, ring-tailed lemurs serve as ambassadors for their species, raising awareness about the urgent need for conservation.
Visitors are encouraged to share their favourite photos and memories of Ricky using the hashtag #RickyTurns30, highlighting his impact on the community.
As Ricky enjoys his golden years, Shaldon Wildlife Trust remains committed to ensuring he continues to thrive in hishome. The Trust also reaffirms its dedication to protecting ring-tailed lemurs and other threatened species through global conservation partnerships and education initiatives.
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