Stumpy hits a grand old age

SCOTLAND'S oldest lemur has celebrated his 25th birthday at a West Lothian zoo.

The Madagascan monkey, named Stumpy for his little tail, celebrated his birthday with his five sons - and a cake made of raisins, sultanas and dried cranberries - at Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder.

It was a welcome treat for the old animal, who has arthritis in his fingers, has lost some of his teeth and started to walk with a stoop. In monkey terms his age is more like a human century.

In the wild, lemurs die aged 12 to 15 and in captivity at around the age of 20.

Head zookeeper Lynn McKechnie said: "Stumpy has got a bit of a wrinkly face and sometimes he can't hold fruit very well because of his arthritic fingers but he is happy."