Oldest living lemur in captivity

The oldest living lemur in captivity is Stumpy (b. June 1986), a ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) who is at least 39 years old as of June 2025, and has resided at Five Sisters Zoo near West Calder in West Lothian, UK, since 2005.

Stumpy was born c. June 1986 at Gatwick Zoo (managed by Terry and Sheila Thorpe) in Surrey, UK, which closed down in 2002, at which point he was rehomed to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland; two years later, he was transferred to Five Sisters Zoo where he has resided ever since.

Stumpy currently lives with two of his sons, Red (21) and Julian (20). In total, he has sired 11 offspring, which have gone on to produce 25 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. All six great-grandchildren live at Attica Zoo in Greece.

Among his favourite activities are sunbathing and eating snacks such as berries, willow leaves and sweet potato, and on his nominated birthday of 15 June each year, he gets to celebrate with a slice of primate-friendly birthday cake.

Stumpy has far exceeded the average life expectancy for his species of around 20–25 years (in human care); those in the wild are fortunate to survive into their late teens. Although having arthritis and requiring a bit more care than the younger lemurs, he is generally in good health.

Other examples of lemurs reaching into their late 30s are Bella, a white-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur albifrons), who resided at the Isle of Wight Zoo, UK, from 1990 to 2020 and was also estimated to have been 38 when she died. There are also zoological records of a ring-tailed lemur born at Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania, USA, in May 1967, who after several transfers, was still alive at Brevard Zoo in Florida, USA, in October 2004, more than 37 years later.