Black lemurs are only found wild in North-west Madagascar, and are classified on the IUCN Red List as a vulnerable species.

Breeding programme
The breeding programme involves zoos across Europe cooperating to introduce suitable lemurs to each other in the hope of maintaining a genetically healthy group of animals.

Although zoo staff provided a screened-off bedroom for Adala to give birth in, she didn’t appear to have used it. Instead she proudly sat in view of the public cleaning her baby, who appears to be female. Black lemurs have different colouring depending on their sex – males are black, but females are a paler brown with white ear tufts.

The baby has tiny ear tufts and a ginger back, so staff are tentatively declaring her to be a daughter. She will, however, begin life clinging tightly to her mother so it may be some time before her keepers are able to get a really good view of her.

In the meantime mother and baby will be closely monitored. Adala has been a mother before so her keepers are optimistic that she will bond with her new daughter and raise her successfully.

Thanks to Ventnorblog for the story.

One of them complained to cops, who later nicked stunned Simon Ledger – in a Chinese restaurant.

Simon, 34, often performs the song in Sandown, Isle of Wight. He said: “I hadn’t even seen these two.”

All went well until he began the Carl Douglas disco classic, with its famous Chinese-sounding riff.

Simon said: “We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets. People of all races were loving it. Chinese people have never been offended by it before.

“But this lad walking past with his mum called us w*****s and did the hand sign before taking a picture on his mobile phone.

“We hadn’t even seen them when we started the song. He must have phoned the police.

“I thought it was a joke but they were serious. They seemed pretty amazed but said the law is the law and it was their duty. It’s political correctness gone potty.”

Simon added: “There are plenty of Welsh people at our shows – does it mean I can’t play any Tom Jones?”

Bar owner Sean Ware said: “The song is in no way racist and nor is Simon. There is no way he would abuse anyone.

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“He didn’t start the song just because Chinese people were walking past. He had already started playing it.”

Simon, who is on bail until today, wrote on Facebook: “If the lad who phoned the police is reading this, WHAT IS WONG WITH YOU? Sorry, what is wrong with you?”

A police spokesman said a 32-year-old man of Chinese origin had claimed he was subjected to racial abuse.

He added: “Police are investigating an allegation of racially-aggravated harassment. A man from Shanklin was arrested on suspicion.”

“They phoned me when I was in a Chinese restaurant that night. They arranged to meet me and I was arrested.

Thanks to the Sun Newspaper for this article.

Whilst I was very critical of the data and information delivered to the press by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce and the Isle of Wight Council, which in one instance claimed tourism was up 400%, the figures I have quoted are a direct comparison on the same period in 2009.

Many businesses are reporting an upturn in bookings, although this mainly seems to apply to Self Catering Accommodation and Camping and Touring sites. However, from past experience, website users research holidays for the coming year, booking in the majority around March – July. Fingers crossed it will be a better season.