Remember that little creature recently born at the Denver Zoo? She’s making her public debut.
Tonks the aye-aye is one of just 24 in the United States. She was born on Aug. 8 at the zoo.
The small, rare nocturnal lemur has started to explore her habitat more, meaning visitors will now get a glimpse to see this small mammal, which is very elusive in the wild.
Visitors are welcome to stop by the Emerald Forest at Denver Zoo to spot Tonks, as well as her mother Bellatrix and father Smeagol, but seeing these critters isn’t always easy.
Lead Primate Keeper Becky Sturges has some tips if you want to see these animals:
- Visit early and late. The best times to spot aye-ayes is after the zoo opens around 10:30 a.m. and late in the afternoon. Tonks tends to play and burn off some energy just before bedtime.
- Let your eyes adjust. Stay in the nocturnal exhibit a few minutes to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. That means keeping cell phone lights off.
- Don’t forget to look up. Aye-ayes like to climb around in trees and Tonks is a very adventurous baby. She tends to spend more time in branches in the higher areas of her habitat.
Aye-ayes are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are native only to remote parts of Madagascar.
Click here for more information on Tonks and the Denver Zoo’s history with aye-ayes.
