We’ve got some exciting news to share – on April 2nd, we welcomed a very special new resident: Páraic, a 12-year-old male black-and-white ruffed lemur! Páraic has been brought to the park as a breeding partner for our female black-and-white ruffed lemur, Cali, as part of our ongoing commitment to the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). This is a huge step forward in our efforts to protect this Critically Endangered species.
If you’re not familiar with black-and-white ruffed lemurs, they’re one of the rarest and most threatened primates on the planet. With fewer than 1,000 individuals left in the wild, these incredible animals are facing serious challenges due to deforestation and poaching in their native Madagascar. Through the EEP, Páraic and Cali will help support genetic diversity and contribute to the survival of the species.
Getting Páraic to Blair Drummond wasn’t as simple as just sending a crate. It was a journey that involved a lot of planning, a ferry ride, and even a little bit of adventure.
Graeme, our Operations Supervisor, was the one tasked with bringing Páraic from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland to his new home here in Scotland. And we’ve got to say – it wasn’t your average drive! In fact, Graeme travelled through Ireland, England, Wales and home to Scotland in a single day – just to get Páraic here. We asked him about the experience, and here’s what he had to say:
“It was definitely an epic road trip! I drove through four countries in one day and travelled by both land and sea to bring Páraic safely to Blair Drummond. Every detail was carefully planned to ensure he was comfortable throughout the journey. It’s a real privilege to be involved in moves like this, especially for a species as important to conservation as the black-and-white ruffed lemur.”
Once Páraic arrived, he was carefully settled into his new home here at the park. He’s still adjusting behind the scenes, getting comfortable in his new environment, and building a relationship with Cali. While Páraic isn’t on show to the public just yet, we’re excited for you to meet him once he’s fully settled and ready to make his debut.
Stay tuned to our website and social media for more updates on Páraic’s journey and his new friendship with Cali, and we’ll let you know as soon as he’s ready to meet you in person!