A huddle of three Ring-Tailed Lemur at the Philadelphia Zoo on 12-20-2008.
The Ring-tailed Lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also matriarchal, a trait common among lemurs but uncommon among other primates. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds groups will huddle together forming a “lemur ball”. The Ring-tailed Lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun.
Ring-tailed lemurs are the best-known of all the lemurs, and the most common in zoos, but they are considered vulnerable to extinction in their wild habitat in Madagascar. In the wild, ring-tailed lemurs eat a wide variety of foods, including fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, sap, herbs, insects and other small animals. At the Zoo, lemurs eat a specially-formulated primate chow, as well as fresh produce such as carrots, oranges and brussel sprouts. The lemurs are also occasionally given other enrichment chows, raisins and yogurt.
Ring-tailed lemurs keep their tails high in the air to signal others in their group to follow them. Male lemurs compete amongst themselves by secreting a perfume and rubbing it onto their tails. They then point their tails at other males in what are known as “stink fights.”
I’d like the thank the staff and volunteers at the Philadelphia Zoo for the time each took with me explaining behaviors and characteristics of each of the animals. Everyone there was very pleasant and seemed to genuinely care about the animals they were caretakers of. It was uplifting to experience a zoo so well run. Like so many other zoos, they are hurting for funds and would appreciate your help. You can find out how you can help support the Philadelphia Zoo by visiting their web site at http://www2.philadelphiazoo.org.
