VIDEO: New lemurs join the family at Whipsnade Zoo

The ring-tailed lemurs joined the gang today (April 28) after being born earlier this month to mums Daphne, Hannelies, Pien and Naomi, and dad Quaker.

So far they have not been named as Whipsnade’s keepers are yet to determine their sex.

The babies share their home at the zoo’s walk-through exhibit ‘In With the Lemurs’.

Senior keeper Jane Storr said: “The newborns are doing really well. They are just at the point where they start to show some signs of curiosity about the world, climbing around onto their mothers’ backs and shoulders to get a better look around.

“Daphne, Hannalies, Pien and Naomi, who are experienced mums, are all brilliant with the babies, and Quaker, the male lemur who fathered all four is also jumping around alongside them, looking like a proud dad.”

Native only to Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs are at risk in the wild from illegal hunting and the effects of widespread habitat loss. Whipsnade’s young ring-tailed lemurs are welcome additions to the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).