Ghost sightings at Woburn Safari Park it hosts 'Madagas-scare' event this Halloween
Woburn Safari Park is holding a Madagas-scare charity weekend this Halloween – with a Ghost sighting almost guaranteed.
But it’s not a spirit visitors will see – it’s a four-year-old black-and-white ruffled lemur called Ghost.
The word ‘lemur’ comes from the lemures, the restless spirits of the dead in Roman mythology, and was chosen by 18th Century naturalist Carl Linnaeus because of the animals’ nocturnal habits, reflective eyes and quiet movement.
But behind the spooky name is a serious story: black-and-white ruffed lemurs are classed as Critically Endangered.
James Fryer, deputy team leader, Animal Encounters at Woburn Safari Park, said: "Halloween is a great opportunity to introduce visitors to our lemurs. But the truly scary story is how threatened they are in the wild, with lemurs as a group among the most at-risk mammals on the planet. We hope people come for the Halloween connection and leave knowing more about why these animals need protecting, and that the money raised will support Impact Madagascar's vital conservation work."
The Madagas-scare weekend runs on Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, November 1 and will be raising money for Impact Madagascar, an organisation that helps protect endangered wild lemur species.
Visitors can meet the team, learn more about the species, book Mini VIP experiences and take part in games. There’s also the chance to win a VIP Close Up Encounter, listen to the spooky keeper talks and enjoy a trip on the ghost train.