Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Welcomes Crowned Sifaka Lemur Brothers

Arthur and Echo are the latest additions to the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park near Ashford. Who or what are Arthur and Echo? well simply put they are crowned sifaka lemurs which are a type of primate.

Arthur and Echo are actually brothers and have travelled all the way from Belfast and seem to be enjoying their new surroundings very much.

Simon Jeffrey, the park’s manager for animals said: “Arthur and Echo are two lovely crowned sifaka lemurs – they love bouncing around their new home and are very partial to walnuts. Visitors will easily be able to spot them as they are quite curious, so they are always out and about watching what’s going on.”

The two brothers arrived at the park to participate in a breeding programme which seeks to increase the crowned sifaka lemur population which has dwindled in the wild. The population has suffered greatly from deforestation and hunting in their native Madagascar. Their numbers have taken such a big hit, they are now classified as endangered.

Simon adds that the park hopes the two brothers will eventually be introduced to some females in the future, and such breeding programmes are critical for the future of the species.