Could and should the ring tailed lemur be replaced by other lemur species in zoos ?

Neil chace said:
Also, I stand corrected- The species most recommended for mixed Exhibits are Collared and crowned lemurs, E. flavifrons and M. m. macao are the two with the most difficulty in mixed exhibits.
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Ah I see, well I've definitely seen crowned lemurs housed in mixed species and walkthrough exhibits and perhaps I've seen collared lemurs used in these too though I honestly can't remember.

I've also seen black lemurs in a mixed species walkthrough at Parc des Felins in France and I know of the species being used historically in at least one other (Aspinall parks).

With the blue-eyed black lemur it doesn't really suprise me as due to its very highly strung nature and difficult social dynamics of groups. I dont think it is an animal really suitable for a mixed species enclosure let alone a mixed species walkthrough exhibit either.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Ah I see, well I've definitely seen crowned lemurs housed in mixed species and walkthrough exhibits and perhaps I've seen collared lemurs used in these too though I honestly can't remember.

I've also seen black lemurs in a mixed species walkthrough at Parc des Felins in France and I know of the species being used historically in at least one other (Aspinall parks).

With the blue-eyed black lemur it doesn't really suprise me as due to its very highly strung nature and difficult social dynamics of groups. I dont think it is an animal really suitable for a mixed species enclosure let alone a mixed species walkthrough exhibit either.
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The TAG also recommends all Eulemers be kept on either 1.1 pairs or 2.0 pairs, saying that breeding in captivity is difficult in large colonies. For this reason, I think keeping Eulemers with other Lemur species would be an excellent alternative to having just Eulemers, even though Eulemers are my personal favorite type of Lemur, and one I'd like to see more of.
 
Neil chace said:
The TAG also recommends all Eulemers be kept on either 1.1 pairs or 2.0 pairs, saying that breeding in captivity is difficult in large colonies. For this reason, I think keeping Eulemers with other Lemur species would be an excellent alternative to having just Eulemers, even though Eulemers are my personal favorite type of Lemur, and one I'd like to see more of.
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Yes, I think some Eulemurs could be suitable (crowned, mongoose,collared) but certainly the blue-eyed black lemur wouldn't be a good fit and from what you mentioned earlier it is possible that the black lemur wouldn't fit into that category either.

I would definitely like to see more Sclater's lemur, gray headed lemur, collared lemur,crowned lemur and mongoose lemur being held ex-situ by zoos. In most cases and with decent zoos I would like to see the species above being kept rather than ring tailed lemurs which would be much better phased out from these collections IMO.

For example, in Jersey zoo in the UK I would like to see Sclater's, mongoose or gray headed lemur replace the ring tailed and maybe even the black and white ruffed lemur (I honestly have no idea why they haven't done this already actually).

On the subject of favourites I think the Eulemers are also my favourite genus of lemurs too and I would have to say that the crowned lemur is probably my favourite species of them all.
 
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Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Yes, I think some Eulemurs could be suitable (crowned, mongoose,collared) but certainly the blue-eyed black lemur wouldn't be a good fit and from what you mentioned earlier it is possible that the black lemur wouldn't fit into that category either.

I would definitely like to see more Sclater's lemur, gray headed lemur, collared lemur,crowned lemur and mongoose lemur being held ex-situ by zoos. In most cases and with decent zoos I would like to see the species above being kept rather than ring tailed lemurs which would be much better phased out from these collections IMO.

For example, in Jersey zoo in the UK I would like to see Sclater's, mongoose or gray headed lemur replace the ring tailed and maybe even the black and white ruffed lemur (I honestly have no idea why they haven't done this already actually).

On the subject of favourites I think the Eulemers are also my favourite genus of lemurs too and I would have to say that the crowned lemur is probably my favourite species of them all.
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In my opinion, crowned lemurs are a close second to the Mongoose lemur, although still a species I would love to see more of.
 
Neil chace said:
In my opinion, crowned lemurs are a close second to the Mongoose lemur, although still a species I would love to see more of.
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So you would consider the mongoose to be your favourite lemur ?

Thats an interesting choice, they are certainly a beautiful species.

As the mongoose lemur is critically endangered they are therefore considerably more threatened than the ringtailed and could do with more ex-situ and perhaps replace the latter in zoos ?
 
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Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
So you would consider the mongoose to be your favourite lemur ?

Thats an interesting choice, they are certainly a beautiful species.

As the mongoose lemur is critically endangered they are therefore considerably more threatened than the ringtailed and could do with more ex-situ and perhaps replace the latter in zoos ?
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I think the two Lemur species most realistic for an increase an holders is Mongoose Lemur and Coquerel's Sifaka. Overall, the AZA has SSPs for 10 lemur species-
-Ring-tailed
-Red-ruffed
-Black-and-White Ruffed
- Mongoose
-Crowned
-Collared
-Blue-eyed Black
-Coquerel's Sifaka
-Grey Mouse Lemur
-Aye-aye
 
Neil chace said:
I think the two Lemur species most realistic for an increase an holders is Mongoose Lemur and Coquerel's Sifaka. Overall, the AZA has SSPs for 10 lemur species-
-Ring-tailed
-Red-ruffed
-Black-and-White Ruffed
- Mongoose
-Crowned
-Collared
-Blue-eyed Black
-Coquerel's Sifaka
-Grey Mouse Lemur
-Aye-aye
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When you say an increase are you specifically meaning in US zoos with reference to AZA or do you mean in global terms ?
 
As of 2016 there were apparently only 110 critically endangered mongoose lemurs in captivity globally according to the Schwitzer paper " Lemurs of Madagascar: A Strategy for their Conservation".
 
Neil chace said:
I think the two Lemur species most realistic for an increase an holders is Mongoose Lemur and Coquerel's Sifaka. Overall, the AZA has SSPs for 10 lemur species-
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Quotes from the AZA Eulemer handbook regarding suitability of the mongoose lemur in mixed species exhibits:

"E. mongoz does not do well in mixed species settings, while other species can be safely housed with other taxa. Some species tolerate extended family groups while others, such as E. mongoz, do not. Thus, it is important to remember that not all Eulemur species will be managed in the same manner and that group management can even differ within the same species."

Regarding SSP status of species under AZA designation :

"Currently (2013), only the mongoose lemur (E. mongoz) is a Yellow SSP Program under AZA sustainability designations."

Apparently a yellow SSP program under AZA designations is defined as the following :

" Yellow SSP Programs are those populations that retain less than 90% gene diversity at 100 years or ten generations, but include at least 50 individual animals (within AZA facilities and Sustainability Partner facilities) held among at least three AZA member facilities."
 
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