A critically endangered red ruffed lemur named Shelly celebrated her 30th birthday at Blackpool Zoo, marking her as the oldest of her species in the UK and the seventh oldest worldwide.

Shelly’s Special Milestone

Zoo staff honored the occasion with a custom birthday cake and party hats. Red ruffed lemurs typically live 15 to 20 years in their native Madagascar habitats. Reaching 30 years, even in captivity, remains exceptionally rare.

Experts credit her longevity to carefully managed diets, secure environments, and dedicated care from keepers and veterinarians. International breeding programs further support the survival of this threatened species, listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with declining wild populations.

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 Legacy of Longevity

Shelly joins a tradition of long-lived residents at the zoo. Darwin, an Aldabra giant tortoise and the facility’s longest-staying inhabitant, reached 105 years before his passing in 2022.

The tortoise, native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, endured two world wars and two global pandemics. He had resided at the zoo since its opening 50 years prior, captivating visitors as an iconic reptile.

Zookeepers provided specialist treatment for a leg issue, but his condition worsened. After consultations with leading 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 rank among Earth’s longest-living animals.