Jerry & Camille
No one likes to be alone, and Jerry was no exception. Jerry, a ring-tailed lemur at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, had lost his companion in mid-April. Since lemurs are a very social species, Animal Curator, Dr. Sue Lindsey, immediately began looking for a companion for Jerry.
Ring-tailed lemurs are endangered animals, so their populations in accredited zoos are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums through the Species Survival Plan (SSP). An SSP is something like match.com for zoo animals. Through the SSP, Dr. Lindsey learned of a lone female “Camille” at the Tautphas Park Zoo in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Camille, about 10 years old, was described as very sociable and easy going. She had been ousted by her group at Tautphas Park Zoo after another female gave birth. Her keepers tried several times to reincorporate her in the colony. Even though this group included some of her grown offspring, they were not successful. By the time Dr. Lindsey called, Camille had been alone for two months.
Camille arrived at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in June and was found to be in good health. After a short quarantine period, she was introduced to “Jerry”. While we can’t say it was love at first sight, they immediately began to groom one another—a very good sign. Initially, Camille was timid about going out on exhibit, hesitating in the doorway of her indoor living area. Jerry began moving back and forth repeatedly from the outside exhibit to where Camille would linger, or step just inside her indoor living area, presumably to encourage her to come outside.
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