Nine ring-tailed lemurs arrived in the territory aboard Sir Richard Branson’s private jet early yesterday morning bound for Mosquito Island, the billionaire said.
The animals – seven males and two females – are the first group of the endangered species destined for Sir Richard’s privately owned island. They have been placed in specially built enclosures on Mosquito, where they will remain until experts determine it is safe to release them into the island’s natural environment, Sir Richard said in a phone interview yesterday.
“They’re well, and happy, and settling in very well,” he said. “They’ve arrived.”
He added that he and lemur experts traveled with the animals after they were picked up from zoos in Sweden and South Africa.
“They’ve had a long journey,” he said. “But they’re fine now; they’re eating their fruit and veg.”
Enclosures to house the lemurs have been built on both Necker and Mosquito islands, though the animals will reside on Mosquito for now, he said.
See the May 12, 2011 edition for full coverage.