A critically endangered red ruffed lemur named Shelly celebrates her 30th birthday today at Blackpool Zoo, marking her as the oldest of her species in the UK and the seventh oldest worldwide.
Birthday Festivities for a Remarkable Milestone
Zoo staff honored Shelly with a special birthday cake and party hats. Red ruffed lemurs, listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, typically live 15 to 20 years in their native Madagascar habitats. Reaching 30 years remains exceptionally rare, even in captivity.
Expert care, including carefully managed diets, secure environments, and dedicated veterinary attention, contributes to such extended lifespans. International breeding programs further support the conservation of this declining species.
Luke Minns, Section Head at Blackpool Zoo, stated: “Shelly is an incredibly special animal and reaching 30 is a huge milestone, not just for us but for the species as a whole. She is an ambassador for red ruffed lemurs and a great example of how expert knowledge and dedication can support animals to live longer and healthy lives.”
Blackpool Zoo’s Legacy of Longevity
Shelly follows in the footsteps of Darwin, an Aldabra giant tortoise and the zoo’s longest-resident animal, who lived to 105 years. Darwin endured two world wars and two global pandemics before his passing in 2022.
The beloved reptile, a fixture since the zoo opened 50 years ago, received specialized treatment for a leg issue. Despite consultations with top veterinarians worldwide, staff made the difficult decision to euthanize him as his condition worsened.
A zoo spokesman noted: “He was a wonderful link for so many people to the fascination of reptiles and he has really inspired the next generation of conservationists. He was an irreplaceable feature of the zoo’s history. He had a personality on par with his size and was loved by all of our visitors.”
Aldabra giant tortoises, native to the Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll, rank among Earth’s longest-living species.
