Calgary Zoo asks city for $2.7M for 'Land of Lemurs' exhibit

The Calgary Zoo's proposed$8-million lemur exhibitis one step closer to reality after a city committee approved the request for$2.7 million in fundingon Wednesday.

The money comes out of thecity's Municipal Sustainability Initiative, andwould go towards building the "Land of Lemurs"exhibitslated to open in 2017on the east end of St. George's Island.

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The lemurs would be the newest exhibit since Penguin Plunge in 2012.

The zoo estimates the exhibit will boost attendance by 40,000 people and bring in $2.6 million in the first year, said CEO Clement Lanthier.

In its proposal to the city, the zoosaid the exhibit would also uphold its role in educating the public and reinforce the zoo's role as a leader in conservation and species reintroduction.

Lanthier said visitors to the exhibit would get a chance to interact with curious lemurs.

Steig Johnson isan associate professor of anthropology at the University of Calgarywho studies Madagascar lemurs exclusively.

He said lemurs are considered the most threatened mammal species in the world.

There are 100 species and 90 per cent are endangered, Johnson said.