Critically endangered lemur turns 30

A critically endangered red ruffed lemur at Blackpool Zoo is celebrating an incredible milestone after becoming one of the oldest of her kind on the planet.

Shelly will be 30 years old on Tuesday 13^th May, which makes her what is thought to be the oldest of her species in the UK and the 7^th oldest across the globe.

Red ruffed lemurs are classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List with populations still in decline, which means they are in real danger of becoming extinct in the wild.

In their native Madagascar red ruffed lemurs typically live between 15 and 20 years.  Even under human care in zoos, reaching 30 is exceptionally rare.

On the day Shelly was born George Michael was at number one with "Fastlove" and Oasis became the fastest-selling group in UK history after selling 330,000 concert tickets in nine hours.

In 1996 the UK was firmly in the era of “Girl Power” as the The Spice Girls topped the charts with debut single Wannabe. In addition, Manchester United fans celebrated winning the FA Cup for a record ninth time by beating Liverpool 1–0. Saturday nights meant watching Noel’s House Party and dial up internet was causing arguments across the country.

Shelly’s birth date makes her a Millennial along with celebrities including Zendaya, Tom Holland and Hailey Bieber. Blackpool Zoo staff Amy, Annabel, Bethany, Billy, Gwen and Sam, who work across animal care, catering and health and safety, will also mark their 30th birthdays in 2026.

The species’ longevity in zoos across the world is thanks to carefully managed diets, safe environments and expert care from keepers and veterinary staff. These efforts support international breeding programmes that help safeguard the future of threatened animals such as the red ruffed lemur.

Luke Minns, Section Head at Blackpool Zoo said: “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.”