Greater bamboo lemur are not kept at Asson anymore. They were asked to send their animals to Lyon where no breeding occured until now.
At Paris Zoo, there is to my knowledge only a single male lesser bamboo lemur. I've seen it both inside the greenhouse, enjoying one aviary at the end of the day, but also outside where it would enjoy the sifaka aviary from the end of the afternoon until the morning during the summer months. They are looking for an unrelated female for him but it is quite unlikely to happen given the current population in Europe and the focus toward Alaotra bamboo lemur.
It is quite a similar story with greater bamboo lemur. As I support the Helpsimus association, (do not hesitate to check their work, they are very transparent and are doing a great job), I was very happy to meet with Helpsimus foundator, Mrs. Roullet, former primatologist at Paris and studbook keeper of the greater bamboo lemur. Following questions related to the captive population, she very clearly stated that the population was not anymore a conservation priority. As you may know, new populations of this previously unknow specie were found and are now protected and expanding. With few founders and slow breeding, the European population which might have been an insurance population is now a lot less useful. That is why breeding at Paris zoo is not especially sought after apparently.
She concluded this statement by saying that most information we know about the prolemur were gathered from captive individuals and that if she would have had not care for bamboo lemurs at the former Vincennes Zoo, she would not have found Helpsimus association which played a great role in turning the plight and securing the future of the specie in-situ.
I think it is a great example of the role of ambassadeur zoo animals can play even though the direct contribution of ex-situ population was nil.
