Black lemur
Eulemur macaco
The black lemur and other lemurs are related to monkeys. The males are black or dark brown, while the brown females have pale ear tufts. Even though it is an adaptable species, forest clearing is a serious threat to its conservation. The black lemur is an important pollinator and spreader of seeds of some Madagascarian tree species. It uses the poison it gets from millipedes and centipedes to care for its fur and ward off insects.
Conservation
Endangered lemurs live in the rainforests of Madagascar. Korkeasaari Zoo took part in the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation’s project that helps to tackle deforestation by training locals in sustainable agriculture and planting trees, and also collects information about lemur populations.
This species and the individuals living in Korkeasaari Zoo are part of an ex-situ conservation programme by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EAZA, known as the EEP. The aim of the EEP is to maintain a healthy zoo population of the species.
The species is part of the CITES convention, which regulates the international trade of endangered or threatened animals and plants.
Tropical house Amazonia
EAZA Ex-situ Programme
Endangerment
Distribution
Habitat
Diet
Size
Lifespan
20 years
Scientific classification
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae