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Critically endangered lemur gives birth to rare set of triplets at Georgia zoo: ‘We hope the numbers keep growing’

critically-endangered-lemur-gives-birth-to-rare-set-of-triplets-at-georgia-zoo:-‘we-hope-the-numbers-keep-growing’
Critically endangered lemur gives birth to rare set of triplets at Georgia zoo: ‘We hope the numbers keep growing’

Cuteness, times three.

An endangered red ruffed lemur gave birth to an adorable set of triplets — Red, Marjorie and Taylor — at the Wild Adventures Theme Park in Georgia on April 25.

“Parents Val and Doug are doing great,” Kelly Uphold, the lead primate keeper, told The Post. “Their family just keeps growing. They already had four children, including another set of triplets.”

A red ruffled lemur with her three babies

The triplets — Taylor, Marjorie and Red — stay close to mom Val. Wild Adventure Theme Park

Marjorie is the couple’s first girl, so Uphold took extra care naming her.

“I’m a Taylor Swift fan so I went with her grandmother’s name,” she said.

This tiny trio’s arrival marks a big win for conservation efforts as red ruffed lemurs are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

Experts estimate that fewer than 10,000 remain in the wild, and the species is found only in the rainforests of southeastern Madagascar. Their habitat continues to shrink because of slash-and-burn farming, illegal logging of valuable timber like rosewood, and the growing effects of climate change.

Uphold said she hopes the new arrivals will help shine a spotlight on conservation and inspire visitors to learn more about protecting the species she’s helping to breed.

Three baby red ruffed lemurs with their mother

The red ruffed lemurs are an endangered species with only about 10,000 of them left in the wild. Wild Adventure Theme Park

In the meantime, the precious newcomers are already thriving.

“They’re wonderful, gentle animals,” said Uphold, “but they are extremely loud. They screech and call out to each other in lots of different voices.”

The lemurs use 12 different vocal calls to communicate everything from danger warnings to excitement — and sometimes they’re just checking in with one another across the trees.

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“They’ve been dubbed the ‘chatterboxes’ of the forest,” said Uphold.

The playful primates love grooming one another, lounging in the sun and springing from branch to branch with ease. Their long, bushy tails help them balance high in the trees while they search for food among the branches.

Three red ruffed baby lemurs with their mom

The babies will soon be unveiled to visitors at the Wild Adventures theme park in Valdosta, Ga. Wild Adventure Theme Park

And yes, they are impossibly fluffy. Sporting thick collars of fur and soft coats, the lemurs look like cuddly stuffed animals.

“You would think that with such thick fur they would be hot here in Georgia, but they’re used to a warm, steamy climate in the rainforest of Madagascar, so they are very comfortable,” she added.

The lemurs are frugivores, meaning about 90% of their diet comes from fruits like melon and bananas. They also snack on flowers, leaves, insects and “primate biscuits,” which caretakers provide for extra protein.

They typically live about 20-25 years, stay close in family units and weigh about seven to nine pounds fully grown.

Wild Adventures Theme Park is located just north of the Florida border in Valdosta.

“We’re so proud of our lemur family,” added Uphold. “They’re beautiful, and we hope the numbers keep growing.”

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