Rare primate born at Houston Zoo

Zoo officials say the as yet unnamed baby Coquerel's sifaka was born at 5:30pm on January 6 and is doing fine.

"The baby weighed 85 grams at birth, about 3 ounces" said Killam. "Zenobia was a great mom and did everything right from the start, washing him from head to toe and started nursing," added Houston Zoo Primate Supervisor Lynn Killam.

The Houston Zoo is one of only five in the country that are home to the rare and endangered sifaka. It is the first such birth for the zoo as well as for the proud parents, mom Zenobia and dad Dean.

"Mother and baby are doing just fine," said Killam. "Zenobia is being a great mom. The baby is nursing and gaining weight and getting stronger by the day."

The large arboreal, acrobatic lemurs are found only in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

Mom and baby may be seen at the sifaka exhibit at Wortham World of Primates daily during regular zoo hours, weather permitting.