Tennessee Aquarium Celebrates First Red-Collared Brown Lemur Birth
Photo Courtesy of Tennessee Aquarium: An infant Red-collared Brown Lemur peeks out while embraced by its mother, Kintana, at the Tennessee Aquarium. The arrival of this newborn is a noteworthy first for the Aquarium’s Lemur Forest exhibit, which opened in 2017.
In The Know with Gino…
The Tennessee Aquarium has reached a historic milestone with the birth of its first Red-collared Brown Lemur, marking a significant achievement after years of dedicated care and conservation efforts. The infant, born earlier this spring in the Aquarium’s Lemur Forest exhibit, has brought joy and excitement to staff and visitors alike.
The baby lemur’s arrival was an unexpected surprise. While the pair of lemurs, Kintana and John, had been observed breeding late last year, the subtle physical changes during pregnancy made it difficult to confirm a pregnancy without risking anesthesia. Nonetheless, the dedicated care team prepared extensively for the possibility of a new arrival, establishing backup spaces and researching neonatal care protocols.
The surprise delivery occurred on April 23rd when Senior Animal Care Specialist Sam Grote noticed Kintana was actively in labor, evidenced by the appearance of an arm and limb protruding from her body. The birth was swift, with the infant delivered in just seven minutes. This event marks the first successful lemur birth at the Aquarium, representing a significant achievement for the institution’s ongoing conservation and breeding programs.
Photo Courtesy of Tennessee Aquarium: At the Tennessee Aquarium, Red-collared Brown Lemur parents, John (male) and Kintana (female), from left, snuggle while their newborn peeks into view. The birth of this unnamed infant is an important milestone for this endangered species, which is rarely exhibited in American zoos or aquariums.
The Lemur Forest exhibit, which opened in 2017, was designed with future breeding in mind, featuring advanced facilities to support neonatal care. The arrival of this baby lemur is seen as the culmination of years of effort by staff to foster healthy breeding populations of these endangered primates, native exclusively to Madagascar.
In the coming weeks, visitors may have the chance to see the infant clinging to its mother’s belly or riding on her back as it begins to explore its surroundings. The baby’s gender has yet to be determined, but an online community voting contest invites the public to help choose its name. A baby shower event is scheduled for July 9th to celebrate the new arrival and reveal the chosen name.
For now, the young lemur will remain close to its parents, with caretakers monitoring its development from a distance to ensure its well-being. The mother and father have proven to be attentive and nurturing, exemplifying the Aquarium’s commitment to animal welfare.
This birth is particularly meaningful given the rarity of Red-collared Brown Lemurs in captivity. With only 51 individuals across 14 AZA-accredited facilities, the species is classified as endangered, and recent years have seen a notable increase in births—six so far this year across the network. The Tennessee Aquarium’s new addition underscores the institution’s dedication to preserving and showcasing unique and threatened species.
SOURCE: Tennessee Aquarium
