Fresh Faces, New Species

Bright eyes peer up from beside a stream in the Asian Forest Sanctuary.

Black-and-white blurs hop from branch to branch in Kids’ Zone.

Brightly colored tropical fish dart two and fro in the South Pacific Aquarium.

All are new animal faces at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium over the last few months.

Two new female Asian small-clawed otters, Bubbles and Blossom, joined the Asian Forest Sanctuary. They are paired with resident males Ed and Munch for breeding. Look for them hanging out by a water feature, engaging visitors with their entertaining otter antics.

Three Black and white ruffed lemurs joined the Kids’ Zone family early this year. The critically endangered animals are native to Madagascar. Tiffany, Saunders and Albert arrived with a Species Survival Plan® breeding recommendation. They are a new species at the Zoo.

Several colorful tropical fish are now swimming in the South Pacific Aquarium. Look for the Saddleback butterflyfish in the lagoon or the pool adjacent to the Stingray touch tank. Try to spot the orangish Potter’s Angelfish in that same tank, or in the Seahorse area.

Keep an eye out for new colorful fish every time you visit. The “seas” of our aquariums are ever changing.

All represent a continuing commitment to conserving endangered species and presenting animals that show the diversity of species and fit in with the themes of various areas of the Zoo, said General Curator Dr. Karen Goodrowe Beck.

The addition of the Black and white ruffed lemurs, more than three years in the making, is particularly exciting to Kids’ Zone staff, said Senior Staff Biologist Jennifer Donovan. They’re eager to share the story of these animals and spread the message that their populations are in precipitous decline due to habitat loss and exploitation, Donovan said.

Here’s a quick Lemur quiz. See below for answers.

What do you call a group of Lemurs?
Where’s their native home?
Some lemurs are exclusively arboreal. What does that mean?
Are lemurs: a: carnivores; b: primates; c: marsupials
How many lemurs live in Kids’ Zone?

Lemur quiz answers

A troop
The island of Madagascar
They live in trees
b: primates
8: 3 black and white ruffed lemurs; 2 black lemurs and 3 ring tailed lemurs.