Endangered baby lemur twins born at Central Park Zoo

Two critically endangered baby lemurs have joined the Central Park Zoo troop. 

The black-and-white ruffed lemur twins were born on April 5, and can now be seen at the zoo’s “Tropic Zone” exhibit, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a news release. 

The pair of fraternal twins includes a male named Maso and a female named Tonga. 

What You Need To Know

A pair of lemurs was born at the Central Park Zoo

They can now be seen at the zoo’s “Tropic Zone” exhibit

Since 2008, when the species first arrived at the zoo, eight babies have been born

Since 2008, when the species first arrived at the zoo, eight babies have been born, according to WCS. 

Native to eastern Madagascar, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are considered critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Their numbers in the wild have dropped by at least 80% over three generations, “due primarily to habit loss and poaching,” WCS said. 

Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are typically born in multi-infant litters, the release noted. Mothers put their “pups” in tree nests instead of carrying them on their backs like most other primates. 

The creatures have “complex social hierarchies and stand out among primates as uniquely matriarchal,” the release said. 

WCS said Koa, the twins’ mother, leads Central Park’s troop.