Baby lemur born at Zoo Atlanta | Pictures

ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta is welcoming another to its family after announcing the birth of a newly endangered crowned lemur.

He was born on Monday to his mother, 10-year-old Sava.

“Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Sava’s baby. It’s always a reason for celebration and hope when a population of an endangered species welcomes another member,” said Sam Rivera, vice president of animal health.

According to a press release, lemurs are endangered and are native to the northernmost tip of Madagascar, home to more than 100 species of animals.

Crowned lemurs are endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The exploitation of gold and sapphire as well as the production of charcoal contribute to their disappearance.

They are also captured for the pet trade, but because they are primates, they do not make the best pets.

The baby was returned safely to his mother after birth. Sava had a cesarean section, which is not normal for the species.

“While cesarean (or C-section) births are not necessarily unusual for this species in human care, we are proud of our animal care and veterinary teams, who acted proactively to ensure the well-being of Sava and of her newborn,” Rivera said.

Soon, the zoo will be able to determine the sex of the baby lemur once it develops its color. A gray with orange crowns will mean it is a female, and a darker red-brown color with black and orange crowns will mean it is a male.

You won’t be able to see the lemur during your visit yet, as Sava and her newborn are bonding behind the scenes. The zoo said in its press release that guests may be able to see both in the coming days.

The baby lemur joins two other endangered species at the Living Treehouse: the ring-tailed lemur and the black-and-white frilled lemur.

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