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- Title
Going, Going, Gone...Is the Iconic Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) Headed for Imminent Extirpation?
- Authors
Gould, Lisa; Sauther, Michelle L.
- Abstract
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) was once widely distributed throughout the south-central, far south, and southwest regions of Madagascar. This species is known for its marked ecological plasticity and ability to survive in a variety of habitats. Over the past decade, however, habitat destruction, forest fragmentation, hunting for subsistence or the illegal bushmeat trade, and live capture for the illegal pet trade have increased, resulting in extirpation or drastic reduction of populations throughout its geographic range. Recent mining activities in one region have resulted in further serious threats to remaining populations. In this paper, we discuss (1) population numbers and information on population extirpations, gathered over approximately the past six years, to illustrate the alarming decline of this well-known lemur, and (2) how the formerly accepted geographic range of L. catta now requires considerable revision. Population information was collected via on-the-ground surveys and censuses, or from reports by researchers at 34 sites where L. catta is or was recently present. Only three sites are known to contain populations of more than 200 animals. At 12 sites, populations number 30 or fewer individuals, and at 15 sites, L. catta has been recently extirpated, or populations are highly precarious and may become extinct in the very near future. Populations at three previously designated range limits have been extirpated. Many populations are surviving in small, isolated forest fragments, allowing for no male dispersal. With an estimate of just 2,000-2,400 individuals remaining in Madagascar, this iconic lemur may well become extinct in the wild in the near future, or at the very least, exist at only two or three widely dispersed sites.
- Subjects
RING-tailed lemur; LEMUR (Genus); LEMUR conservation; WILDLIFE conservation; PRIMATE ecology
- Publication
Primate Conservation, 2016, Issue 30, p89
- ISSN
0898-6207
- Publication type
Article