For the first time Vari offspring in the nature zoo Rheine
A special breeding success is to be announced from the nature zoo Rheine: On June 3, triplets of black and white varis were born.
This was the first time that this Madagascan lemur species, which is threatened with extinction, has bred offspring, although varis have been kept at the Nature Zoo for 27 years. Until 2019, however, only male varis were kept in a “bachelor group.” The breeding program (EEP) then recommended to keep a breeding pair to support the somewhat aging population in European zoos with then possible cubs. The mother of the cubs arrived in 2019 from Olomouc Zoo, Czech Republic, and the father followed in 2022 from Randers Zoo in Denmark.
The pair harmonized well, and matings were observed early this year. Varises have a comparatively short gestation period of about 100 days for primates. Unlike the related calicoes and macaws, the young do not cling to the mother’s fur and are carried around, but are laid down in a hiding place.
For this purpose, there were several boxes to choose from in the Varis’ enclosure. Only from the behavior of the mother and the calculated gestation period was it possible to determine that a birth had taken place in one of the boxes.
It then took almost a week before a head of a young animal could be seen. Soon after, a second little head was seen, and finally it was certain that it was a litter of triplets. Multiple litters – mostly twins – are more common in varis than in other lemurs, but triplets are still a specialty.
Although this is her first offspring, the mother’s care behavior is almost exemplary. In the meantime, she and the cubs can be seen outside the litter box in the entire indoor enclosure in the lemur house, where they can also be easily observed by visitors.
Varis are highly threatened with extinction in their original home country Madagascar due to habitat destruction and hunting. Coordinated breeding in zoos is of great importance in order to maintain a “safety population” in captivity from which animals are available for restocking or reintroduction.
Photos: Jörg Everding / NaturZoo Rheine