A rare species of lemur has been given a Manx home at the Curraghs Wildlife Park.

Two critically-endangered red ruffed lemurs have settled into the newly-built lemur enclosure, following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of two young gentle lemurs earlier this year.

This species is found in one small region in the north east of Madagascar. However, due to illegal logging of its nationally protected habitat an international co-ordinated breeding programme has been set up to ensure its survival. About 600 red ruffed lemurs are protected in zoos around the world and the Curraghs Wildlife Park has been added to the list, as it has brought two endangered lemurs across from Twycross Zoo and Colchester Zoo.

A new lemur exhibit at the park was due to open this summer, but sadly the fire which caused the death of two young Alaotran gentle lemurs in April has held things back.

The park’s manager Kathleen Graham, said: ’We have opted for a soft opening of the new area this summer.

’Until the tragic fire we had been on track for moving all the other lemur species in just after Easter, giving them time to settle in before the walk-in was opened to the public in time for the school holidays.

’Although we aren’t fully open as planned, we have managed to get the two female red ruffed lemurs homed with our pair of black-and-white ruffed lemurs. We now just have the ring-tailed lemurs to move over and mix with the red-fronted lemur.

’The final part will be the re-build of the gentle lemur exhibit and the walk-in should be open when we have volunteers to man it towards the end of this year.

’We are really pleased this major improvement is ready for all five of our lemur species to move into. With all the set-backs and disappointments we feel it has been worth it to provide a top quality home for these endangered animals.

Protected

’We continue to be grateful to the Steam Packet Company for its ongoing support in moving these important zoo animals in protective captive breeding programmes.’

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company chief executive Mark Woodward said: ’It is incredibly sad that so many of these species are endangered but it is great to see such a co-ordinated effort in the hope that one day they won’t have to be protected. We are pleased to continue our support of these programmes.’

The park celebrated Ffinlo the silvery gibbon’s first birthday on Sunday (August 19).

His parents - Nakula and Slamet - came to the island from Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent two summers ago as part of a breeding programme. About a year later and Ffinlo was born.

Wild silvery gibbons originate from the Indonesian island of Java. Habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade threatens about 2,000 adult species there.