Prepare for a triple dose of cuteness!
An endangered red ruffed lemur recently delighted staff and visitors at Georgia’s Wild Adventures Theme Park by giving birth to triplets, affectionately named Red, Marjorie, and Taylor, on April 25.
“Val and Doug, the proud parents, are thriving,” shared Kelly Uphold, the park’s lead primate keeper, with The Post. “Their family continues to expand, having already welcomed four other youngsters, including another set of triplets.”
Marjorie holds the special title of being the first daughter for the lemur couple, prompting Uphold to choose her name with particular care.
“Being a fan of Taylor Swift, I decided to honor her by using her grandmother’s name,” Uphold explained.
The arrival of these adorable triplets signifies a significant achievement in conservation, as red ruffed lemurs are classified as critically endangered on 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.
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.
“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.
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.”
