Today we are celebrating the 7th birthday of mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) Luisa as well as celebrating the birth of her first infant! Luisa gave birth to her infant (the 7th and final infant born at LCF in 2021) on May 25, 2021.
Luisa and her partner Javier have lived together since 2019 but only received a breeding recommendation from the Mongoose lemur Species Survival Plan (SSP) this year. Staff were unsure if the pair would have breeding success, but were pleasantly surprised to find Luisa had given birth shortly after eating breakfast on May 25- one week after her expected due dates ended.
Luisa and Javier were both born here at LCF in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Luisa has experience with infants, gained from assisting her mother Emilia in raising her younger brother Rico. With this knowledge, she embraced motherhood immediately.
Javier is also taking to fatherhood well, listening to Luisa when she needs space or when she wants to cuddle. Luisa and Javier were free ranging lemurs but are currently restricted to their shelter to facilitate easier staff monitoring and ensure the safety of their critically endangered infant as he or she grows.