Shaldon Zoo’s oldest resident, Ricky the ring-tailed lemur, will celebrate a milestone birthday this week when he celebrates his 30th on Thursday (March 6).

‘Reaching 30 years is an incredible achievement for a ring-tailed lemur,’ said Shaldon Wildlife Trust director Zak Showell. ‘In the wild, lemurs typically live to around 15-29 years.’

Ricky will celebrate with his long-term partner Sally and their two older daughters Denny and Bianca as well as all the keepers and volunteers at the zoo.

Ricky met Sally in 2000 and the pair have produced 19 offspring who now live in zoos across the UK. Ricky is also a grandad to 70 lemurs and great grandad to six lemurs.

Ricky was born at Bristol Zoo in 1995 and came to Shaldon with fellow ring-tailed lemurs Robbie and Shamus the following year.

His longevity is a testament to the exceptional care provided by the team at Shaldon and reflects advancements in husbandry, welfare and veterinary science that support the health and wellbeing of animals in zoos.

‘He certainly doesn’t show his age and still bounces around like a lemur of 20 years old,’ Zak commented. ‘Ricky’s resilience and vitality are truly extraordinary, and we’re so proud to have him as a part of our conservation family.’

Ricky is loved by the entire team at the zoo. He is one of the many animals junior keepers get to meet and learn about. Over the years it is estimated that Ricky has met over 1000 people during these experiences.

Shaldon Wildlife Trust is encouraging any visitors to the zoo to share their favourite photos and memories of Ricky, using the hashtag #RickyTurns30, to highlight his impact on the community.

Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are native to the island of Madagascar, where they face critical threats due to habitat loss, hunting and climate change. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, ring-tailed lemurs serve as ambassadors for their species, raising awareness about the urgent need for conservation.