Ring-tailed lemur

Scientific Name: Lemur catta Animal Type: Mammal Location: Madagascar. Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Profile

 

This very distinctive lemur, with its striking banded tail, is probably the best known species of Madagascan primate, because it has been kept in captivity and also studied in the wild for the longest. Despite being a familiar zoo animal, the ring-tail is threatened with extinction in its native Madagascar due to the rapid loss of its habitat.

Ring-tails were the first lemurs to be kept at Durrell – they arrived way back in 1964. Since then a great deal of expertise has been gained with this species and various others, and we continue to make an extremely valuable contribution to lemur knowledge and captive management.

Durrell has many well-established links with Madagascar, especially involving the conservation of lemurs. As well as captive breeding, vitally important habitat protection, research, education and training programmes are ongoing. A number of Madagascan students have completed the course at our International Training Centre and returned home with the skills they need to carry out such work and help save their native wildlife.

Factsheets

• Ring Tailed Lemur factsheet (57 kb)

Video

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