Blackpool Zoo Celebrates Shelly’s 30th Birthday
A critically endangered red ruffed lemur named Shelly marks her 30th birthday at Blackpool Zoo, positioning her as the oldest of her species in the UK and the seventh oldest worldwide. Zoo staff honored the milestone with a special birthday cake and party hats, highlighting her remarkable longevity.
Exceptional Lifespan for a Threatened Species
Red ruffed lemurs appear on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, with declining populations in their native Madagascar habitat. These primates typically live 15 to 20 years in the wild. Reaching 30 years remains exceptionally rare, even in captivity, thanks to carefully managed diets, secure environments, and dedicated care from keepers and veterinarians.
International breeding programs play a key role in preserving the species’ future.
Luke Minns, Section Head at Blackpool Zoo, stated: “Shelly is an incredibly special animal and reaching 30 is a huge milestone, not just for us but for the species as a whole. She is an ambassador for red ruffed lemurs and a great example of how expert knowledge and dedication can support animals to live longer and healthy lives.”
Blackpool Zoo’s History of Long-Lived Animals
Shelly follows in the footsteps of Darwin, an Aldabra giant tortoise and the zoo’s longest-resident animal, who lived to 105 years. Darwin endured two world wars and two global pandemics before his passing in 2022, following treatment for a leg condition. Despite consultations with top veterinarians worldwide, staff made the difficult decision to euthanize him.
A zoo spokesman noted: “He was a wonderful link for so many people to the fascination of reptiles and he has really inspired the next generation of conservationists. He was an irreplaceable feature of the zoo’s history. He had a personality on par with his size and was loved by all of our visitors. Staff and keepers are extremely saddened at his passing and are being comforted by the kind messages of condolence we are receiving.”
Aldabra tortoises, native to the Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll, rank among Earth’s longest-living creatures.
