SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Billionaire Richard Branson says he wants to use one of his private Caribbean islands to help save an endangered species of African primate.
The British entrepreneur plans to introduce lemurs to the undeveloped Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands. Branson tells The Associated Press that he hopes to create a thriving population to help make up for the loss of their native habitat on the island of Madagascar.
Branson said Monday that he hopes to bring the first group of about 30 from zoos in the coming weeks. He calls it a radical idea and says he will try to address concerns of critics who fear the plan will hurt native lizard and bird populations.
Moskito is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) east of Puerto Rico.