Two Idaho Falls Zoo animals pass away
The Idaho Falls Zoo reports 34-year-old male red-ruffed lemur Rolf and 14-year-old male Goeldi’s monkey Kevin have peacefully passed away.
Rolf was born at the San Diego Zoo on May 6, 1983 and joined the Idaho Falls Zoo family in 1995. The zoo celebrated Rolf’s 34th birthday in May, which made him the oldest red-ruffed lemur in North America and possibly the oldest in the world. The average lifespan of a red-ruffed lemur is 15-20 years.
Despite showing signs of his advanced age, Rolf enjoyed spending his days with his companion, Ima.
“I think what I will miss most is Rolf’s distinct call,” says Idaho Falls Zoo Primate Keeper Aaron Young. “He loved to enthusiastically greet people who walked up to the exhibit.”
Kevin, the Goeldi’s monkey, was born November 1, 2002 and came to the Idaho Falls Zoo in 2002. Goeldi’s monkey is a smaller monkey species, also known as callimico, Goeldi’s marmoset, or Goeldi’s tamarin. Classified as a ‘vulnerable’ species, they live in family groups in the upper Amazon basin region of South America.
Zookeepers began hospice care for Kevin a couple months ago after displaying signs of age-related illness.
Idaho Falls Zoo will work with the Association of Zoos and Aquarium members to identify new companions for Ima, the red-ruffed lemur, and Tia, the female Goeldi monkey, either at our zoo or another facility.
