By: Follow South Jersey Staff
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — The Cape May County Zoo has added two new additions to their zoo family: Ariel the Otter and Falana the Lemur.
Ariel is a 14-year-old female North American River Otter who arrived last month from the Kansas City Zoo.
“Over the last few weeks, we have been slowly introducing Ariel to our resident male Otter Mork,” Dr. Alex Ernst, Associate Veterinarian, said in a press release from the county. “We are happy to report that Ariel and Mork have formed a friendship and can be seen together every day in our North American River Otter habitat.”
North American River Otters are a semi-aquatic member of the mustelid family and can be found in rivers, lakes, swamps, and coastal plains across North America, including Cape May County.
In March, the zoo added another baby lemur to their family.
“Our Ring-Tailed Lemur named Falana gave birth to an infant,” Ernst said. “As is typically the case, mom is taking very good care of her new baby and is holding it very tight. Through observations we can see that the baby is strong and is nursing well but don’t yet know the gender.”
This is Falana’s second baby with Darwin. They had a male offspring last year on March 13. This young and growing family can be seen daily in our Ring-tailed Lemur habitat.
“I encourage our residents and visitors to take a trip to the Cape May County Zoo often during the next few months,” Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski, liaison to the Parks and Zoo, said. “We never know what new births and attractions will greet us. The County Parks and Zoo come alive after a long winter and offer endless opportunities for families to explore and learn about the animals, hike, bike, and spend time in the outdoors.”
The Cape May County Parks and Zoo are open daily, and admission is free to the public. Zoo hours are 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and the Parks are open from 7 a.m. until dusk. Go to www.cmczoo.com for information and a list of special events.
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