Walk through the Lemur Loop at Marwell Zoo

Walk through the Lemur Loop at Marwell Zoo

July 10, 2017

Marwell Zoo have opened a new Lemur Loop exhibit, allowing guests to walk through their enclosure and see these fascinating and lovable primates closer than ever before.

The new walkthrough is home to four different species of lemur. Critically endangered Alaotran gentle lemurs and black-and white-ruffed lemurs and endangered crowned lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs are joined in the exhibit by a new species for Marwell – two endangered green peafowl.

The animals’ new environment aims to closely resemble their natural habitat, encouraging them to leap, climb and sunbathe freely as people walk alongside them. Marwell’s Animal Collection Manager Ross Brown said: “We’ve designed the enclosure in a way that promotes natural behaviours, which is a key part of it”.

In the ‘Evolution Hub’, zoo staff will be on hand every day until 4pm to teach groups about the lemur troop and their habitats. Visitors can learn about the story of lemur evolution and diversity, as well as taking part in observation and skills-based activities.

Find out more about the Lemur Loop and book tickets online by visiting the Marwell website.

In addition to being a fantastic family destination, Marwell also carry out vital conservation work in their local area. They own and manage tracts of semi-natural ancient woodland and agricultural land surrounding the zoo and have undertaken extensive ecological surveys and research with the aim of enhancing local biodiversity.

The South Downs National Park Authority and the Volunteer Ranger Service have worked with Marwell on several of these initiatives. Marwell have also contributed to the South Downs Barn Owl Box (BOB) project, installing nest boxes on their land, and carrying out studies across the South Downs on breeding success in relation to prey availability, vegetation characteristics and other variables. Other recent research includes understanding the effects of habitat management of butterfly populations, and factors affecting abundance and distribution of bats and reptiles.