Tenth reed lemur born in Plzeň Zoo, now world’s largest breeder of the species

A critically endangered Alaotra reed lemur, also known as a bandro, was born at Plzeň Zoo in June. It’s the tenth to be born there, making the zoo the world’s leading breeder of the species.

Fewer than 60 reed lemurs live in Europe, spread across just 16 institutions. Plzeň now cares for ten of them. Earlier this year, it also became the first zoo in Czechia in a decade to successfully rear twin crowned lemurs, a species it exclusively keeps.

Native to Lake Alaotra in eastern Madagascar, reed lemurs are shy, grey primates. Plzeň has kept them since 2008, but breeding only began in 2015 after the arrival of the current pair. Their first offspring was born a year later.