Habitat

Ring-tailed lemurs are found in a few protected areas in Southern Madagascar, from Fort Dauphin west to as far north as Morandava on the west coast. A small population lives in the mountains of Andringitra on the southern plateau (Haring 2004). They are highly adaptable, and can be found in a variety of different habitats including gallery forests, dense brush, spiny forests, low-lying limestone forests, and above the tree-line to elevations of 2,500 m. They have been described by some to be a highly flexible "edge" or "weed species" due to their high adaptability. They can also withstand extreme resource seasonality, temperature variation, and drought (Gould et. al 2003).

In Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs inhabit 3 specific habitat-types (Anderson 2004):

The Ankoba forest consists of Pithosolobium trees and a few tamarinds, figs and Melia.

The Malaza forest consists of Tamarindus indicus, tall figs, Celtis, and Creteva. The sub-canopy of this forest type consists of Rhinorhea and Celtis with great numbers of peppers and sometimes capers.

The third type of forest in the Berenty Reserve is the spiny forest. Lemur catta does not spend as much time here, but can occasionally be seen. The spiny forest contains trees called Alaudia and Euphorbia, which look like cacti. Kalanchoe, Aloe, and Xerisicyos are also found in the area.

Ring-tailed lemurs are arboreal; however, they are the most terrestrial of all lemur species (Haring 2004). They actually spend 15-20% of their time on the ground, but always stay near trees. They run on top of branches and leap between them, using their tail for balance. They often rest and sleep on horizontal branches. Troops sleep in 2 or 3 large adjacent trees, usually kily trees (Haring 2004).

Photo courtesy of Conservation International

Ring-tailed lemurs are in severe danger due to habitat destruction. Before humans arrived in Madagascar (about 1,500 years ago), there were more than a dozen species of giant lemurs. Since the arrival of humans, 14 species of lemur have disappeared (nearly all of these were larger than the surviving lemurs today). The surviving Madagascar lemurs are now in danger of following the same path towards extinction. It used to be thought that Madagascar has been in the past completely forested. However, new studies of fossil pollen by David Burney of Duke University show that most giant lemurs of the past lived in pockets of forest (now vanished) in the midst of grassy savannas which spread across central Madagascar (Jolly 1988). The extreme growth in human population and subsequent environmental pressures has resulted in the alteration and destruction of lemur habitats which has in turn led to mass extinctions of species and the endangerment of current species. A study done by Allison Jolly in 1988 showed that Madagascar's population had doubled in the past 25 years. When the study was done, the current population was 11 million, most of which were desperately poor farmers, loggers, and cattle herders. The rainforest in Madagascar had been reduced by half since 1950 to create cropland, pasture and firewood. Grass fires were set by herders to improve grazing for cattle and goats which altered the ecology of the savanna. Hunters have also sped the extinction of lemurs (Jolly 1988).

The ring-tailed lemurs prefer most the gallery forests of Madagascar which are rapdily being destroyed. Ring-tailed lemurs are also hunted for food in some areas and are often kept as pets. The level of protection in Madagascar's protected areas varies, only partially protecting the lemurs from hunting and habitat destruction (Haring 2004).

Jolly, in 1988, realized that despite the incredible losses suffered by lemurs due to habitat destruction, the Malagasy government does see the necessity of preserving and maintaining forests for firewood and as watersheds. The people are beginning to understand that the appeal lemurs bring to conservationists and foreign aid donors can bring in money to help save Madagascar's forests for all its inhabitants (Jolly 1988). After a cyclone in 1985 triggered landslides on slopes (made bare through inappropriate agriculture) that crushed many families in their houses, farmers have begun to support the idea of sparing the remaining virgin forests of Madagascar. In 1986, many villages welcomed a team led by Patricia Wright to trace out boundaries for a new park, later to become Ranomafana Park. This park could become a model for others in Madagascar, as hot springs and unique animals such as lemurs offer promise for tourism and new jobs, economically benefiting the local people (Jolly 1988).

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