Rare NYC Zoo Arrival Offers Hope For Species

NEW YORK — A rare pair of endangered collared lemur twins has been born at the Bronx Zoo, offering a boost to conservation efforts for the declining species.

The twins were born in March and have begun appearing in the zoo’s Madagascar! exhibit, where they cling tightly to their mother as she perches on branches.

“Collared lemur twins are uncommon, making this pair’s birth a hopeful moment in the conservation of the endangered species,” zoo staff said in a statement.

In their earliest months, baby lemurs grip their mother’s fur as she moves through their habitat. As they grow, they develop the agility that defines the species, using long tails to balance while leaping through forest canopies.

Collared lemurs, native to southeastern Madagascar, take their name from the reddish-brown fur that rings their necks, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

The species remains classified as endangered, with populations declining habitat destruction, hunting and the illegal pet trade.