Be prepared for ghostly ‘Madagas-scare’ at Woburn Safari Park Halloween charity weekend

The Ghost in question is a four-year-old black-and-white ruffed lemur (called Ghost) who will be ‘entertaining visitors over Halloween (October 31 to November 1) in aid of Impact Madagascar.

But behind the spooky name is a serious story: black-and-white ruffed lemurs are classed as critically endangered.

The word lemur comes from the lemures, the restless spirits of the dead in Roman mythology. The 18thcentury naturalist Carl Linnaeus chose it because of the animals’ nocturnal habits, reflective eyes and quiet movement through the trees.

In some Malagasy communities, certain lemurs are also believed to embody the spirits of ancestors. These animals are treated with respect, with traditional taboos known as “fady” helping protect them from harm.

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 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."

Impact Madagascar is 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.