The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is welcoming its newest arrival – a male Coquerel’s Sifaka (CAHK-ker-rells she-FAHK) baby born on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.  “This is a highly significant birth for the Sifaka population in North America,” stated Mike McClure, general curator.  “There are only eight accredited zoos that house the 50 Coquerel’s Sifaka in the U.S. and this tiny baby represents 2% of the total captive population in the country.”

Photo and video credits: Maryland Zoo

The Maryland Zoo’s Sifaka pair, Anastasia, age 7 and Gratian, age 8 are the first time parents of baby Otto, which was born sometime between 9:00 am and 10:00 am on February 15.  His birth weight was 100 grams, which falls in the average birth weights range of 85-115 g. “For comparison’s sake, 100 grams is just about the weight of a deck of cards,” said Meredith Wagoner, mammal collection and conservation manager at the Zoo.  “Sifaka are born almost hairless and resemble tiny bald gremlins, however their white hair soon grows in and they begin to resemble their parents.”

A baby Coquerel’s Sifaka (CAHK-ker-rells she-FAHK), an endangered Lemur species from Madagascar, was born at the Saint Louis Zoo’s Primate House on January 9, 2011. This is the third baby for mother, Almirena (al-mah-REE-nah), age eight, from the Los Angeles Zoo, and father Caligula, age 12, from Duke Lemur Center. Almirena is a great mother and the newborn is very strong, according to zookeepers. For about a month, the baby held onto mom's belly, but has recently "graduated" to riding on her back. Zookeepers are observing the infant and mother every day, and a name will be chosen once it can be determined if it’s a male or female.

Photo credits: Ethan Riepl/ St. Louis Zoo

Meet Ares, a brand new baby Coquerel's sifaka at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. Like all lemurs, Coquerel's sifaka is native only to the island of Madagascar where they are endangered due to habitat destruction. With the birth of Ares, the total population of Coquerel's sifakas in accredited zoos rises to 51.

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher / WCS's Bronx Zoo

In this adorable video, a baby Coquerel's Sifaka lemur born at the St. Louis Zoo January 23rd, tries to go for a climb. In the second half of the video, look for the baby's tiny head poking out from within mom's fur. 

In June the Bronx Zoo welcomed a happy and healthy baby Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur and these pictures were taken in July. Sifakas get their name from their unmistakable "shih-fak" alarm call which starts as a low growl and ends with a loud and abrupt "fak" that can be described as a shrill hiccup.

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher / Wildlife Conservation Society

Frolicking!

Video credit: Luke Groskin / Wildlife Conservation Society

Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands is a unique institution where monkeys, apes and other primates are free to wander within the park forming their own natural social groups. All of the pictures below were taken last week by photographer Jean Kern. Just like their fellow primates, humans, mom and baby stick close together.

Baby Western lowland gorilla and mom

Baby Barbary macaque and mom

Baby golden-headed lion tamarin and mom

... and we couldn't resist these cattle egret chicks...

A tiny sifaka lemur was born at the St. Louis Zoo on February 16, 2009. Lemurs are primates like monkeys, apes, and humans, and sifakas have five fingered hands complete with thumbs. Baby sifakas use their strong grasp to cling tightly to their mothers for the first month or so, as these pictures clearly demonstrate.

Photo credits: Robin Winkelman/Saint Louis Zoo

The Besancon Zoo in Eastern France welcomed the arrival of a baby Sifaka in late December. 'Tahina' means 'needs to be protected' in malgache. With no mother to protect her, 'Tahina' is seen living up to her name by clinging tightly to a surrogate stuffed Mommy Lemur.

(Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images)

A four to five month gestation period ends with the birth of a single offspring in July. The young holds fast to the mother's belly when small, but then later is carried on her back. Young are weaned after about six months and reach full maturity at the age of two to three years. The life expectancy of the sifakas is up to 18 years.