Coquerel's Sifaka newborn

The Houston Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a rare Coquerels sifaka (pronounced CO-cue-rals she-FAK) baby. The birth is a first for the Zoo and the first birth for the proud parents, mom Zenobia and dad Dean.

Mother and baby are doing just fine, said Houston Zoo Primate Supervisor Lynn Killam. Zenobia is being a great mom. The baby is nursing and gaining weight and getting stronger by the day, added Killam. The baby weighed 3 ounces at birth and has already gained an ounce.

This is a very significant event for the Houston Zoo, said Killam. The Houston Zoo is one of only five in the country that are home to the rare and endangered sifaka. The large arboreal, acrobatic lemurs are found only in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

Dean and Zenobia bonded quickly after arriving at the Zoo in 2007. So, the birth is an exciting development for us, added Killam.

Mom and baby may be seen at the sifaka exhibit at Wortham World of Primates daily during regular Zoo hours, weather permitting.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• houston zoo
• sifaka
• lemur
• baby
• zoo

[solocitizen]

Wait, so Dean got kicked out of the nest one day and they thought that the female was pregnant? How did they know that he simply wasn't in the dog house?

[houstonzoo]

They were such a compatible pair up until that point that when Zenobia became aggressive to Dean and refused to let him sleep with her, we felt that the hormonal changes from a pregnancy might be the cause. When we were able to confirm that later in her gestation we were proven correct.

[solocitizen]

@houstonzoo She kicked him out even though she was carrying his baby? Was she worried that he might kill the newborn so he can sire another or something? Male lions do that, but I wouldn't guess lemurs.

[houstonzoo]

@solocitizen We really dont know the reason for this females periodic aggression towards her mate; it is unusual. And, there is infanticide in this species but it would never be from the sire, it would be from an unrelated male coming in, so we dont think that is the reason. Sometimes we just dont know the reasons for animal behavior, as much as we would like to!

[houstonzoo]

These little guys are so neat to look at, especially their eyes! Have you ever noticed how green they are?

[huongleable]

Aww, I hope we get to see the father with the mother and baby soon.. like a nice family. He probably really misses her if they were so compatible

[inuyashaqueen1]

OK ZABOOMAFOO IS A SIFAKA YES I WATCH HIM sorry about cap

[RonaldrDeleon]

Im From Rhode Island and we enjoyed the zoo when we visited Houston last week !!!

[silvike]

Is she still agressive towards the male?

[3greatgreyhounds3]

I can't wait to get back to the Houston Zoo again...nice! -S

[reneistheman]

Zoboomafoo in H-Town!!!!

[coyote374]

@houstonzoo  Their eyes look yellow to me

[redfox409]

Me and you, and Zooboomafoo. come on in to see what's new wer'e doin' the things that animals do. Me and you and Zooboomafoo animal junction waiting for you!

[redfox409]

Hey that is zooboomafoo! I am in my 30's and I watch that on comcast cable on on demand.

[markeye520]

is the not so baby any more, baby still alive?