The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore welcomed a male baby Coquerel’s sifaka on November 12 and named him Nero. At birth, the baby lemur weighed 94 grams, about the weight of a deck of cards. According to Meredith Wagoner, mammal collection and conservation manager, “Sifaka are born with sparse hair and resemble tiny gremlins, however their white hair soon grows in, and they begin to resemble their parents.”

In the wild, Coquerel’s sifaka inhabit the island of Madagascar. They are endangered as a result of habitat loss from deforestation. Sifaka are different from other lemurs in the way they hop through treetops in an upright posture using only their hind legs. They propel themselves on the ground by side-hopping on their hind legs.

To learn more, see the Maryland Zoo website.

On Tuesday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 14, starting at 8pm both nights, Nat Geo WILD is airing a special program devoted to sustaining vulnerable species called Miracle Babies.  In five hour-long episodes, viewers gain a window into the world of baby pandas, leopards, Tasmanian devils, lemurs, koalas, wallabies, ibises, parrots, and more.

Watch a video below of cute baby pandas raised in captivity in Chengdu, China:

Watch a video below of adorable baby sifaka lemurs:

Watch a video below of two baby Tasmanian devils (one baby even gets hiccups after feeding):

A pair of red-ruffed lemurs have been born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The two were born on April 21st of this year to Maditra and Bozeny, who have lived at the zoo for 3 years. The babies are still too young to have their gender identified and they have not been given names yet. Once full-grown they will weigh between 8-10 lbs.

Read about the red-ruffed lemur’s cousin the ring-tailed lemur at Animal Fact Guide.

The Detroit Zoo is holding a competition to name their two newest black and white ruffled lemurs. The male and female twins were born in June.

Anyone may suggest names through the zoo’s website. The deadline is September 2nd at midnight. It is suggested that names have a Malagasy origin as lemurs are native to Madagascar.

Zoo staff will select five male names and five female names to put for public vote.

Vote here.

A baby Coquerel’s sifaka, an endangered kind of lemur, was born at the St. Louis Zoo on February 16. The baby will cling to its mother Almirena’s belly for a month and then transfer to riding on her back.

Sifakas are unique because they possess frog-like legs and hop on two feet.  Their powerful legs allow them to leap from tree to tree. Coquerel’s sifakas, native to Madagascar, are in danger of extinction due to habitat loss from logging and farming.

For more info: St. Louis Zoo