Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher/WCS

Bronx Zoo; opens Fri 20

The rascally stars of Meerkat Manor better call their agents: Their celebrity status is about to be threatened by a band of leaping lemurs making their debut in “Madagascar!,” a new permanent exhibit opening at the Bronx Zoo Friday 20. The 24 colorful prosimians who call the habitat home represent five distinct lemur breeds—from the playful ring-tailed lemur to the rare Coquerel’s sifaka—and each has a charismatic personality that could garner top ratings for a reality show. (Are you listening, Animal Planet?)

Located in a landmarked beaux arts building that was once the old Lion House, “Madagascar!” serves to both introduce zoogoers to the isolated country’s indigenous animals and highlight their desperate plight. “Being an island, Madagascar is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world,” says Kristine Theis, the zoo’s primary wildlife keeper. “But it’s also one of the poorest. Deforestation and poaching are rampant.” The exhibit is the capstone of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s efforts—the organization has spent two decades establishing preserves in the region.

Lemurs make great poster children for the cause, but not all of the creatures in “Madagascar!” are warm and cuddly. A 13-foot Nile crocodile and his equally intimidating mate lounge around a limestone grotto as Malagasy killifish swim in an adjacent 15,000-gallon tank. The most unnerving resident is also the smallest—the infamous Madagascar hissing cockroach, which is three times the size and strength of its stateside cousin. More than 100,000 of these bad boys (yep, males only) crawl around behind a glass wall that’s angled in such a way that it’s rendered practically invisible. “We coat the tops of their cage with Vaseline so they can’t climb out and mate with American roaches,” says Joel, one of the zookeepers who helped move the African arthropods into their new home. On behalf of the citizens of New York City, Joel, thank you.

For details visit bronxzoo.com.