When zoologists from Busch Gardens introduced Zennie, a South American red-ruffed lemur, to biology classes at Richards High School, the primate could not have looked more at ease.
As the zoologists talked with students about the social life, habitat, diet, and behavior of lemurs, Zennie seemed to relax even more. At one point, it seemed Zennie might just take a nap while getting his belly scratched.
Richards was one of two schools in the Chicago area selected recently for a site visit by Busch Gardens.
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As part of an educational outreach effort, the animal preserve sends staff members to schools around the country to educate students about habitat, social life, diet, and behavior of various animals.
Just Start Somewhere also hopes to inspire students to consider careers in zoology, marine biology, and related fields. Aside from Zennie, the visit included A pair of penguins, a three-banded armadillo, cockatoo, and a pair of marmosets.
