Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Red-bellied lemur escapes from Sussex zoo

28th Sept' 2010:
A red-bellied lemur has evaded capture since escaping from an East Sussex zoo into nearby woodland.

Staff from Drusillas Park, in Alfriston, have joined police and fire crews in the search for the animal.
Zoo manager Sue Woodgate said the small primates were not aggressive animals and posed no danger to the public.
She said the lemur - called Kirioka - had been spotted several times in abandoned rooks' nests in the woods but attempts to recapture him had failed.
Kirioka was being introduced to the walk-through enclosure Lemurland on 22 September when he escaped.
Ms Woodgate said: "Unfortunately, in this instance, Kirioka had not completely adjusted to his surroundings.
"He is only a youngster and when another lemur approached him, Kirioka fled up the barrier fencing and pure momentum took him through the electric deterrent."
She asked members of the public who spot Kirioka not to approach him but to contact zoo staff.