Young lemurs settle into their new home near São Paulo A new breeding program for the critically endangered hairy-eared lemur (CR on the IUCN Red List) has begun in Latin America, with a four-year-old female from Zagreb and a two-year-old male from Olomouc forming the foundation pair. According to the Zagreb Zoo, reported by Hina, the animals have arrived safely in Cotia, near São Paulo, Brazil.
First assessments and ALPZA’s plan Curator for mammals at the Zagreb Zoo, Dijana Beneta, said that the lemurs handled the long trip well and are slowly adapting to their new environment. The pair is expected to fit into the breeding strategy of the Latin American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (ALPZA), which aims to develop a stable reserve population of this critically endangered species.
Why these two animals? Beneta explained that both lemurs were selected due to their health, age and genetic value. Ivan Cizelj, director of the Zagreb Zoo, noted that the female from Zagreb carries a strong lineage: her parents Padme (from Italy) and John John (from Denmark) were part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and produced five offspring while living in Zagreb.
International cooperation and reporting back Even though the female has now left the EEP due to the relocation, the Cotia Zoo has committed to providing regular updates on her development and on the group she will eventually lead. Every individual of this species is vital, as the population has declined by approximately 80 percent over the past two decades.
A species on the edge The hairy-eared lemur is endemic to Madagascar’s eastern rainforests. Habitat loss and poaching remain the primary threats. Conservationists stress that both in-situ protection and ex-situ breeding programs are necessary for long-term survival.
Life in the canopy These lemurs live in small matriarchal groups of two to five individuals and reach sexual maturity at around 20 months. Unlike many other lemur species, mothers carry their young in their mouths or leave them temporarily in safe spots. They eat fruit, leaves, seeds and nectar, are most active at dawn and dusk, and juveniles become skilled climbers by five months of age.
