Ring-tailed Troop
Picture copyright (©) Sally Mills 2026
They scurry in a troop,
and scamper together,
their tail a flag of hoops,
that curls like a feather.
When threatened they will sing
with eerie howls and wails,
they lift and shake the rings,
on their striped bushy tails.
They can shriek, eep and bark,
love to leap, bounce and bound,
they stink fight, make a mark,
when danger is around.
They groom each other’s fur,
guard the troop with their calls,
when they’re safe they will purr,
and make a lemur ball.
and scamper together,
their tail a flag of hoops,
that curls like a feather.
When threatened they will sing
with eerie howls and wails,
they lift and shake the rings,
on their striped bushy tails.
They can shriek, eep and bark,
love to leap, bounce and bound,
they stink fight, make a mark,
when danger is around.
They groom each other’s fur,
guard the troop with their calls,
when they’re safe they will purr,
and make a lemur ball.
Picture copyright (©) Sally Mills 2026
Lemurs live in large groups called ‘troops’ which can be over 30 lemurs.
Living in a troop helps to provide safety and the lemurs can share food and shelter.
Lemurs huddle together to form ‘lemur balls’ for warmth and safety.
This poem is copyright (©) Sally Mills 2026
About the Writer
Sally Mills
After graduating as an artist and following a career devoted to nature conservation Sally has written/illustrated three publications: her debut memoir, Island to Island, and accompanying Photograph Collection, together with the production of illustrations for a children’s book, Boomy the Bittern. With drive and motivation to inspire children about the natural world, she has recently become infatuated with children’s poetry and has been previously published on the Dirigible Balloon.
