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  • Writer's pictureFelix Kioko

THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND


Common name: Ring tailed lemur

Scientific name: Lemur catta

Total population: unknown ( wild), 2000 ( captivity)

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Region: Madagascar

Gestation : 139 days

Height: 43 cm

Weight: 2.2 kg

The island of Madagascar is a floating paradise for wild animals. With over 80% of its wildlife found nowhere else in the world. One of the animals endemic to the island is the ring tailed lemur. Out of the different types of lemurs the ring tailed lemur is the most known .Some of you may be familiar with the movie Penguins of Madagascar. In the movie the character of King Julian is played by a ring tailed lemur, another reason why its easily identifiable.

Ring tailed lemurs are conspicuous for their long tail, measuring about 60 cm (23.6 in), that has alternating bands of black and white rings . The rest of their bodies are light gray to dark brown.

Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups known as troops. These groups may include 6 to 30 animals, but average about 17. Both sexes live in troops, but a dominant female presides over all.

Unlike other primates ring tailed lemurs spend most of their time on the ground Lemurs use their hands and feet to move nimbly through the trees, but cannot grip with their tails as some of their primate cousins do. Because of the highly seasonal environment in which they live, wild ring-tailed lemurs must exploit a wide variety of food sources throughout the year. They are best characterized as opportunistic omnivores and eat ripe fruits, leaves, leaf stems, flowers, flower stems, spiders, spider webs, caterpillars, cicadas, insect cocoons, birds, chameleons, cicadas, grasshoppers, and even dirt from termite mounds. One of the most important food sources for ring-tailed lemurs is the tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) which not only is abundant but which produces fruits and leaves at alternating times of the year, providing a reliable, year-round food source for the lemurs.

Ring-tailed lemurs start their day waking before dawn and moving about in the branches of the group's sleeping tree. One group splits into two sleeping parties each night, huddling together while sleeping. Between 5:30 and 8:30 a.m., ring-tailed lemurs move into the sun, away from the sleeping tree and onto exposed ground, and begin feeding and "sunning." The "sunning" posture is distinctive. Ring-tailed lemurs sit upright on their haunches, spread-eagle, and rest their forearms on their knees, exposing their undersides to direct sunlight. This behavior is probably linked to thermoregulation( regulate their own body temperature) as it is often seen following cold nights or during cold mornings.

Ring-tailed lemurs have powerful scent glands and use their unique odor as a communication tool and even as a kind of weapon. Lemurs mark their territory by scent, serving notice of their presence to all who can smell. During mating season, male lemurs battle for dominance by trying to out-stink each other. They cover their long tails with smelly secretions and wave them in the air to determine which animal is more powerful.

Threats

Ring-tailed lemurs face a series of immediate threats from habitat loss and bush-meat hunting. In addition, the species is being extracted from the wild for the in-country illegal pet trade which provides private households with pets and businesses with lemurs that foreign tourists can take selfies with. Fortunately, the illegal trade of live lemurs out of Madagascar into the international market is strictly monitored. This means that ring-tailed lemurs in zoos across the world have not been the victims of this trade; rather, they have been bred in captivity and are often registered as part of global breeding programs.

What now?

Now that these findings have been made public, there is reason for hope.

Historically there has been limited conservation funding and attention allotted to ring-tailed lemurs in part because they were assumed to be doing well as a species. These new studies are already mobilizing resources and awareness, with the proposal to add ring-tailed lemurs to the 2016-2018 “World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates” listing, published bi-annually by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group. This should help release funding for much-needed census efforts and initiatives to track the illegal trade of these animals.

In addition, zoos stand to play an extremely important role in ring-tailed lemur conservation. The lemurs’ presence in zoos around the world presents a fantastic opportunity to inspire the public to care about these animals in a way that they wouldn’t otherwise.

The primary threats to ring-tailed lemurs, including deforestation and capture for the bushmeat and pet trades, can each be linked to poverty. Subsistence living depends heavily on natural resource exploitation, and forest products, including lemurs, are often sold to generate badly needed income. It is therefore critical to link conservation efforts with social and economic development activities, such as training and employing local people in effective reforestation techniques, in order to ensure that both Madagascar’s human and wildlife populations can thrive.

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