The Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.
This week the focus is on the park’s popular lemurs. And one was particularly appreciated at the weekend.
Park education and communications officer Jamie-Leigh Green said: “This past Sunday was, of course, Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate and spoil the women in our lives. Naturally, our animal mamas were also given the same special treatment by their caregivers, our wonderful keepers.
“One of our most successful mothers here in the park is our beautiful red ruffed lemur Manja.
“Manja will turn 19 next month and, alongside her partner Red, is mother to Robin, Nero, Rowan and Regan, who all live here at the park. Her first baby Rua moved to a zoo in France to play her part in the conservation of her species by joining the breeding programme for red ruffed lemurs.
“Unfortunately, red ruffed lemurs are critically endangered out in the wild and that is why we are so proud to have such a fruitful family group, and to be able to contribute to this endangered species breeding programme.”
Pets Farm keeper Kristine Fennessy Alexander added: “Red ruffed lemurs are very special animals and are very important to their local ecosystem in Madagascar.
“Believe it or not, they are actually pollinators, just like bees.
“When red ruffed lemurs put their long snouts into flowers in order to reach the nectar which they feed on, they get pollen on their noses.
“They then pass that pollen on to other flowers as they continue eating.
“They are also very important for seed dispersal. Lemurs have a very quick digestive system; this means that when they eat a piece of fruit, it swiftly passes through their system and the seeds within it remain intact.
“This is beneficial as these seeds are now able to grow and thrive away from the parent plant, without competition.’’
Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.
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