Alaotran GENTLE Lemurs – it’s in the name!

Hello and welcome to the first episode of our new 'Tails from a Conservation Park' blog. Using this blog, I’d like to give you a better insight into the lives of some of the animals I care for and also the struggles their species’ face in the wild. I thought it will be interesting to start off talking about our Critically Endangered Alaotran Gentle Lemurs, the dangers they face in the wild and conservation work being done to help them.

Firstly, I think it’s only right that you meet our two Gentle Lemurs here at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park (BWCP). The top picture below is of Zoma, our male Gentle Lemur, with Bozy, our female, in the picture below that. Zoma was born on the 20^th of July 2007, making him just over 14 years old now, which is relatively old for a gentle lemur. He came to us on the 18^th of March 2016 from Jersey Zoo as part of an exchange for our original male lemur. Interestingly, he is also a first-generation captive-bred lemur, meaning that his parents were both wild caught lemurs from Madagascar. He is a very friendly little character, who can always be found keenly waiting by the enclosure door at feeding time and is more than happy to follow you about the enclosure whilst you clean. Bozy came to us slightly earlier in January 2016 and is 11 years old, having been born at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria on 14^th of March 2010. She is a second-generation captive-bred lemur, with her parents both being from Jersey and Bristol Zoo. Like the species name suggests, Bozy is also an extremely gentle and friendly little lemur, although she is also known to be a VERY keen explorer. Whilst I am unable go into any great detail about her exploration antics, feel free to make of this what you will! Despite the picture below, Bozy is often a lot calmer than Zoma when taking her food, preferring to take it from a keeper and climb away to eat it at what she feels is a safe distance. Zoma on the other hand, is more than happy to sit nearby scoffing his Exotic Leaf-eater pellets or vegetable mix as fast a physically possible. In fact, he isn't happy unless he has a pellet in each hand!

Zoma - keeping his eye on the food!

Bozy - halfway through a food pellet.

In the wild, this species is endemic to reed beds surrounding the Lac Alaotra Lake in Madagascar, meaning they are the only primate in the world confined to marsh habitat and unfortunately, their population is only found in a very small area. They are known by locals in Malagasy as ‘Bandro’, but have unfortunately been classified as Critically Endangered by the ICUN. Alaotran Gentle Lemurs are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction, where their habitat is often converted into rice fields. When combined with the fact that they are only found in a small area to begin with, it is easy to see why they are in serious danger of extinction! Alarmingly, the gentle lemur population has dropped from 11,000 individuals in 1990 to a mere 3,000 today. On a more positive note, conservation efforts are in place both at BWCP and around the world aimed at helping these amazing little primates survive both in captivity and their natural habitat. The species is managed in captivity in Europe using a European Ex-Situ Programme (EEP) co-ordinated by Jersey Zoo. Our gentle lemur pair were brought together to form a new breeding pair as part of the EEP, but unfortunately after no luck in the baby lemur department since they have been together, we are starting to have doubts over Zoma’s ability in the bedroom… Poor fella!

Jersey Zoo themselves have thankfully had slightly more success with captive breeding, with the relatively recent arrival (end of 2019) of a baby gentle lemur, although this is reportedly the first arrival in the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, an international charity also based in Jersey, have been working hard in Madagascar itself to help the species in their natural habitat. Working in partnership with the IUCN’s ‘Save our Species Lemur Initiative’ (we will talk about the great work being done by this team shortly), they have restored wetland areas around Lac Alaotra, connecting previously fragmented habitats and isolated populations. They have also been working with local communities, who often benefit financially from the marshes, to ensure that long-term protection of this species will support both the lemurs themselves but also the locals. This idea that conservation efforts should be community-led, or at least involve the community, is extremely important to long-term ecological success and in the end increasing biodiversity. This is also fundamental to the IUCN’s Lemur Initiative, who aim to empower local communities with the skills and opportunities to co-exist alongside lemurs.

Another charity performing vital work in the area is the Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC), who work exclusively in the special conservation zone known as the ‘Alaotra New Protected Area’. Similarly to Durrell and the IUCN, MWC’s main focus has been on Bandro habitat restoration, to allow previously isolated population to meet and breed. They do this using three main channels: education, ecotourism and by providing alternative livelihoods. Personally, I think its quite interesting that the MWC’s method of education involves the production of magazine for local children that teaches the importance of species such as the gentle lemur. Educating future generations is a great approach to ensure species are conserved long into the future, and that a repeat of their habitat destruction is avoided. Whilst it’s safe to say the future of this beautiful, unique species still hangs in the balance, we’re hoping that the excellent conservation work in progress, as well as our efforts to educate future generations can help save them!

Please feel free to tune in in the coming weeks, when I will be writing about our wonderful group of Ring-Tailed Lemurs, including our two young brothers.