'Great grand' lemur celebrates 30th birthday at Shaldon Wildlife Trust

Ricky the lemur is creating history.

The ring-tailed lemur is 30 on March 6, making him the oldest resident at Shaldon Wildlife Trust.

He will be celebrating with his partner, Sally, and their two older daughters Denny and Bianca alongside all the keepers and volunteers at the zoo.

Ricky born on March 6, 1995, at Bristol Zoo has lived at Shaldon Wildlife Trust since 1996 when he came from Bristol with his fellow ring-tailed lemurs, Robbie and Shamus. 

In 2000 he lived with two female ring-tailed lemurs, Petra and Sally, and it has been true love since then with Ricky and Sally still living together today. They have had 19 offspring that now live in zoos across the UK. He also boasts 70 grand lemurs and six great grand lemurs.

His longevity is a testament to the exceptional care provided by the dedicated team at the Trust, as well as advancements in husbandry, welfare and veterinary science that support the health and well-being of animals in zoos.

“Reaching 30 years is an incredible achievement for a ring-tailed lemur,” said Director Zak Showell.

“In the wild, lemurs typically live to around 15 to 20 years. He certainly doesn’t show his age and still bounces around like a lemur of 20 years old. Ricky’s resilience and vitality are truly extraordinary, and we’re so proud to have him as a part of our conservation family.”

Well loved by the entire team at the zoo, Ricky is also one of the many animals that junior keepers get to meet and learn about and over the years its estimated he’s met well over 1,000 people during these experiences, a vital tool for engaging people on the plight of the species in the wild.

The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is an iconic species native to the island of Madagascar, where it faces critical threats due to habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, ring-tailed lemurs serve as ambassadors for their species, raising awareness about the urgent need for conservation. 

Visitors are encouraged to share their favourite photos and memories of Ricky using the hashtag #RickyTurns30, highlighting his impact on the community.