“Not till June can the grass be said to be waving in the fields. When the frogs dream. and the grass waves, and the buttercups toss their heads, and the heat disposes to bathe in the ponds and streams, then is summer begun” – Henry David Thoreau – 19th century philosopher.
As summer begins to blossom across Wiltshire, Longleat’s ring-tailed lemurs are reveling in the warm weather and vibrant flora. Ronnie, one of the estate’s female lemurs, has been captured on camera by Keeper Ian Turner, basking in the sunshine amidst a field of buttercups.
Ronnie is part of a “conspiracy” of lemurs, a term used to describe a group of these sociable creatures. She shares her enclosure with her twin sister Corbett, their mother Hasina, and three other siblings. Keeper Tina Wilkin describes Ronnie as a “very sweet and curious little lemur who was born at Longleat eight years ago.”
The buttercups, once known in Europe as king’s cups due to their crown-like appearance, are a natural feature in Longleat’s Safari Park Lemur walk-through in the African Village. Here, visitors can step out of their cars and walk among both ring-tailed and brown lemurs. The enclosure is designed with rope swings and wooden walkways, providing the lemurs with ample opportunities to display their impressive agility and climbing skills.
The name “lemur” is derived from the Latin word “lemures,” meaning ghosts. These Madagascan primates are facing significant threats in the wild, primarily due to habitat loss, degradation, and hunting.
The sight of Ronnie and her family enjoying the buttercups and sunshine serves as a poignant reminder of the natural beauty and delicate balance of wildlife conservation. Longleat’s efforts to create a thriving environment for these lemurs are crucial in the broader context of protecting endangered species.
