A PAIR of rare lemurs are celebrating their first birthday at a wildlife attraction in Easter Compton today.

The twin white-belted ruffed lemurs, named Eric and Andro, live with their parents, Ihosy and Hebus, in the Discover Madagascar exhibit at the Wild Place Project enjoyed the special day with presents filled with tasty treats.

Anna Head, animal keeper at Wild Place Project, said: “The young brothers have really come into their own over the past year.

“They are very adventurous and playful but still like the reassurance of having their parents nearby.”

The birth of the white-belted ruffed lemurs was a huge success story for the species, which is at grave risk of extinction in the wild, having suffered an 80 per cent decline in numbers over the last 20 years.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified them as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the wild due to habitat loss from to slash-and-burn and commercial agriculture, logging, and mining, as well as hunting for fur and meat and trapped for the illegal pet trade.

For more information about visiting Wild Place Project visit wildplace.org.uk.