Black and white ruffed lemur

About This Project

These attractive lemurs have very thick fur with asymmetric black and white markings. They live up in the tall trees of the Madagascar forest, in small groups of 2 to 5 individuals. There they find the fruit they like to eat and also build their nests, where the females give birth to several young.

They are threatened by high levels of deforestation and also by being captured and hunted for their meat and their fur; this species is critically endangered and could become extinct.

Our zoo is home to a group of male lemurs; this assists other zoos with their breeding programmes. You can see them in the large enclosure they share with the ring-tailed lemurs… listen out for their loud shrieks!

Species in the EEP

Latin name: Varecia variegata variegata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Size: 55-60 cm, tail 60 cm
Weight: 3.5 – 4.5 kg
Lifespan: 15 – 20 years
Gestation: 3 – 3.5 months
Number of young: 2 – 3
Habitat: tropical forest
Diet: frugivorous
Distribution: east coast of Madagascar
Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Category
Mammalia