South Carolina Aquarium getting new lemurs

The lemurs at the South Carolina Aquarium are headed north but the Charleston attraction is getting some new ones.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier of Charleston reported four ring-tailed lemurs have shipped out for the Minnesota Zoo.

Two red-ruffed lemurs are moving into the South Carolina Aquarium later this month. They’re coming from the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina.

The lemurs are from the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa.

A typical adult can weigh up to 8 pounds and are 21 inches long with a 2-foot tail. They have a thick coat of deep chestnut-red fur.

Aquarium spokeswoman Kate Ditloff said the new lemurs were chosen because they are accustomed to people.

Lemurs made their aquarium debut when Madagascar Journey exhibit opened in 2012.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 7:58 PM.