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The Sisters Act

By
Industry Observer with Retired

The Sisters Act

Sister Lemurs occupy Lemur Island at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. A very long way from Madagascar, their home territorty, these sisters are wonderful ambassadors of their clan. These two Ring Tailed Lemur sisters are Butch and Denise. Butch is actaully called Smoochy Loo and you can tell them apart by their eyes. Smoochy Loo is shown here on the left and Denise is on the right.  They were featured in this months Zoo News. After shooting these photos , I was figuring that I would need to do a bit of red eye removal until I realized that their red (Denise) and golden ( Smoochy Loo) eyes are a characteristic of these amazing little creatures. Their eyes are naturally very reflective and this was taken early evening with natural light.

Being natural climbers, it was noted in the article about them to check out their hands. They have thumbs which greatly improves their grip when climbing. I noticed it and and I gave them both a thumbs up thinking they might imitate me and show me their hands but they were unfazed.

These two, we are to understand really like over ripe figs and they seem to know what to do with all that fermenting sugar. They like to imbibe with it. It does make them act sort of silly. Not exactly fall down drunks but just silly like in a party mood. But because they live in a controlled environment, I am guessing that they understand that they have to create their own. That requires a bit of thinking ahead. They figured out that the fresh fruit if not consumed right away but is left to over ripen, turns Lemur Island into Party City! Not to worry, their stach is well hidden until it is time.

Ring Tailed Lemurs

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Comments(18)

Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Lemurs are such curious little animals.  I had totally overlooked or forgotten that they had neat little striped tails.  Smoochy Loo and Denise have really different names from one another!  It makes you wonder how that happened. . .They must have had different mothers:-)

Jan 28, 2011 07:15 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Myrl, They are and they are fun to watch. These two are pretty protective and affectionate with each other. I was temped to include a video I found on You Tube about the Lemurs but it was perhaps a bit too telling so I opted just to use the photo. :-) As for the names, perhaps I can discover more about that in upcoming visits. The next time I visit them I will also take some auxiliary lighting to get some better detail. I want to see them party ( tipsy) and for that I would even use the video, LOL. 

Jan 28, 2011 07:26 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

That is great William. Those are unusual looking creatures. I love the photo!

Jan 28, 2011 10:16 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Bill, Glad you enjoyed this. They are cute little rascals aren't they. What is cool is that they can jump around almost like they are dancing. When I go back, I hope to capture that on video. Not to mention that jumping 8 to 12 feet from tree to tree. Thankfully they prefer being on the ground level. 

Jan 28, 2011 10:59 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Hi Bill - you mean to tell me the universal thumbs up didn't work!? Maybe they were having an off day. Very cool pictures - they are beautiful creatures and I love their tails! Ring Tailed Lemurs, I learn something new every day on AR!

Jan 28, 2011 12:02 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Overrippened figs huh? Sounds like they have gotten it figured out.  Funny. 

Jan 28, 2011 12:45 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Sounds as though these little guys eat nutriously...and cute as a bug!

Jan 28, 2011 01:40 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

William - wow, you are on a first name basis with them. Cute.

As for overripen figs, when I was on the Black Sea, it was our delicacy. The problem with figs is that if you get them to the marketplace ripe, by the end of the day you won't be able to take them back, they start getting too soft.

We used to take a casserole with us to the marketplace and by the time it closes, we would buy out the remaining overripen figs and persimmons for merely pennies, because it would have to go to garbage.

Delicious.

now I am off to check the mirror and make sure there is no tail. Feels like brother to them... 

Jan 28, 2011 02:59 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I have a friend who lived in Madagascar for 20 years, the place in which they are native.  She had one as a pet.  Adorable creatures.

Jan 28, 2011 03:19 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Kristine, Me too, learn something every day, that is, :-) I love these little creatures and will hopefully over the next month or two get so more fun photos of them playing and sunning ( they sit back leaning against something, all limbs spread to get their bellies warm). I am going to try video next time as well and see if I am lucky to get them moving around.  :-)

 

Jan 28, 2011 03:51 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Judi, They have very interesting personalities and are affectionate and close to each other. In the article it seems they do indeed have the figs and fruit figured out. :-)

Jan 28, 2011 03:53 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Gena, They are cute and their tails are really beautiful. Next time I will get some real close-ups.

Jan 28, 2011 03:54 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

William - your zoo pics are making me long for a visit to the zoo. I always enjoy watching the lemurs and their antics. Time for another visit!

Jeff

Jan 28, 2011 03:54 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Well I know them Jon, They don't know me so well. Yet. One day maybe on a first name basis, hehehe. A very interesting story of your earlier years back in the country you grew up . Always fascinating to me. But yes, you should make sure that you are not going a tail, LMAO 

Jan 28, 2011 03:57 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jane, That would be a wild experience to raise one as a pet. They like companions of their species to grooming and feeling secure, and knowing that I would have at least two. Can you imagine, LOL. 

Jan 28, 2011 04:00 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jeff, Well the zoo awaits. This is a really a good time to go because it isn't too hot and you would like seeing the animals being a bit more frisky (moving about that is, lol) and also easier to get good photos. 

Jan 28, 2011 04:02 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

I love watching Lemurs whenever I get the chance to; they are really cute; I just think maybe they over-do the eye make-up a little :) I love the name Smoochy Loo-must be a story there too. The San Diego Zoo is one of my all-time favorites.

Jan 29, 2011 12:02 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Smoochy Loo-love the names!  What a great photo!

Jan 29, 2011 07:22 AM