Incredible image of lemur at Yorkshire Wildlife Park awarded accolade

18th June 2019

A captivating image of a baby ring tailed lemur taken at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been awarded a prestigious photography accolade.

In Safe Hands, which captures the lemur with its parents at Lemur Woods, was highly commended in the Capturing Hearts and Minds category of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (BIAZA) National Zoo & Aquarium Photo Awards 2019. It was taken by nature photographer David Roberts who regularly chronicles the animals at the award-winning park. -It is a beautiful image that perfectly captures the baby lemur's inquisitive nature as it peers around and grasps onto its parents, says Matt Hartley, Head of Animals of the park at Branton, near Doncaster. -These are the wonderful, natural moments that happen every day at the park and David has done brilliantly to capture this heart-warming photograph. Lemur Woods, a walk-through reserve at the park, is the home to a 15-strong ring-tailed lemurs, a species that is under threat of extinction. Hundreds of entries were submitted for the annual competition, sponsored by Wildlife Vets International, which welcomes submissions from staff, members or volunteers of BIAZA zoos and aquariums to highlight the amazing animals and conservation work being carried in the zoo and aquarium community. -Our annual photo awards highlight not only the incredible animals that visitors can see when they come to a BIAZA zoo or aquarium, but behind the scenes and field conservation work being carried out by our members, said Dr Kirsten Pullen, CEO of BIAZA. YWP, which opened in 2009, is the UK's No. 1 walkthrough wildlife adventure and is home to some of the world's most endangered and beautiful animals, including Amur leopards and tigers, giant otters and polar bears. It is a major force in animal conservation and welfare and supports projects around the world that are protecting at risk species.