FOR the first time in 11 years, a rare black lemur has been born at Dudley Zoo.

The newborn was welcomed into the world by first-time mum Barbara and dad Bryan on May 15.

Barbara, aged six, arrived at the Castle Hill Zoo from Spain in November and quickly made an impression on 11-year-old Bryan, curator Richard Brown said.

He continued: “Mum and baby are both doing really well, so we’re thrilled, especially as this is the first black lemur baby we’ve had at Dudley Zoo since 2006.”

Keepers are yet to confirm the baby’s sex as the grey-coloured youngster will cling to mum for the next few weeks, but time will tell as only males have black fur and females develop their characteristic brown colour within weeks.

The new addition can be found in the zoo’s one-acre Lemur Wood walkthrough exhibit, alongside the free-roaming ring-tailed, collared and black-and-white ruffed lemurs.