It took almost no time at all for Oakvale Wildlife Park's newest additions, a conspiracy of seven lemurs, to settle into their new home.
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The seven mammals, five males and two females, were quick to test out the ropes, logs and shelters on the newly refurbished Lemur Island within the Salt Ash park when they were released on Wednesday, June 19.
"The ring-tailed lemurs have settled in well to their new surrounds with plenty of playtime together, forming strong bonds," Nicole Sauer, Oakvale's senior mammal keeper, said.
"They are all loving the new additions to Lemur Island and can't wait to meet the zoo visitors during our lemur encounters."
The five new male ring-tailed lemurs adopted from Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand had the opportunity to get to know the park's two females, Sumba and Sofia, and keepers during the month they spent behind the scenes at Oakvale while waiting for refurbishments to Lemur Island to finish.
When released onto the island the seven lemurs began exploring the upgraded surroundings by climbing on logs, swing off the ropes and checking out the newly built shelters.
The refurbishments to Lemur Island was a two-month process. It expanded the offerings on the island to accommodate the five new males.
The island design replicates the lemurs' natural habitat on Madagascar and gives them plenty of space to play, forage and rest.
"The ring-tailed lemurs are considered vulnerable," Oakvale owners Leanne and Kent Sansom said.
"We were excited to have the chance for us to adopt the additional five ring-tailed lemurs from New Zealand.
"Having the additional lemurs at Oakvale Wildlife Park provides us with the opportunity to educate our visitors about this unique and endangered animal during our animal talks and private lemur encounters.
"These lemurs are a part of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Species Breeding Management Program."
In February, Oakvale held an official opening for its new Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo enclosure.
The park became the first zoological institute outside of Queensland to house the threatened species of Australian tree kangaroo at the start of 2019.