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By Tim Smith
Published May 31, 2012 at 8:32 am (Updated May 31, 2012 at 8:32 am)

New lemurs at BAMZ’s Madagascar Exhibit: Petunia (left) and her sister Penelope adjust to
their home at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. The lemurs came from Sacramento Zoo
in California, where they had lived together as a family unit. (Photo by Akil Simmons)

Three ring-tailed lemurs have been introduced to the Madagascar Exhibit at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

The animals, a male called Elmer and two unrelated sisters, Petunia and Penelope, came from Sacramento Zoo in California, where they had lived together as a family unit.

According to the Aquarium, the walk-through exhibit is temporarily closed to the public while they get used to their new surroundings.

Principal curator Ian Walker said: “We are delighted to add these fascinating creatures to this world class exhibit so that our visitors, particularly students and children, can see and learn about the endangered animals of Madagascar and other threatened islands.

“We ask people to be patient while these animals get comfortable inside the exhibit before it is reopened to visitors.”

The Madagascar exhibit links Bermuda’s own conservation challenges with those of the Indian Ocean island, where a majority of plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Lemurs are one of Madagascar’s endemic animals, with 80 different species, ranging from tiny pygmies to child-size creatures.