Africa Alive is thrilled to announce the arrival of Zanvie, a female aye-aye, who has joined us from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Already making herself at home, Zanvie has been busily settling in and investigating every nook and branch of her new habitat. You can spot Zanvie in our nocturnal house at Africa Alive.
Native only to the island of Madagascar, aye-ayes are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss and human persecution.
Instantly recognisable, aye-ayes possess ever-growing incisors, large sensitive ears, and an elongated middle finger, which they use to tap on wood and extract hidden insects in a remarkable feeding technique known as percussive foraging. Perfectly adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle, they rely on their acute hearing to detect insects beneath tree bark, playing a vital role in the ecosystem by helping to control insect populations.
Zanvie’s arrival is not only an exciting new chapter for Africa Alive, but also an important reminder of the role zoos and charities such as ZSEA play in global conservation. By working with leading organisations, we are helping to safeguard species, including the aye-aye and raise awareness among future generations.
Sara Goatcher, Head of Conservation Education, said,
‘Aye ayes are one of my favourite Madagascan animals! Their unique, and sometimes weird, adaptations make them a perfect ambassador for educating visiting schools and groups about the wonderful wildlife of Madagascar and the amazing ways that animals have evolved to survive in the wild’
So why not come along, step into the nocturnal world and meet Zanvie, the wonderfully weird, brilliantly clever new primate at Africa Alive.