Back to the Wild: black and white ruffed lemur restocking program in Madagascar

Betampona Natural Reserve is a small low elevation rainforest (2,228 hectares) in eastern Madagascar surrounded by farmed and degraded land. It is home to a variety of lemur species, including black and white ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata. Compared to other similar sites, Betampona’s population of “Varecia” was lower than expected, which prompted the idea to restock the forest with captive born lemurs and assess the feasibility of a reintroduction program using captive born lemurs. After going through a state side boot camp, selected captive born “Varecia” were transferred to Betampona where they underwent a 30-day quarantine and adjustment period, prior to being released into the forest.

Graham was asked to be the field veterinarian for the project, and in this role in 1997, he accompanied the first group of five lemurs from Duke University to Betampona, supervising the quarantine period, pre-release health examinations, and post-release monitoring period. Both Graham and Susan accompanied the second group of four lemurs that was transferred in 1998, and on this trip, Susan was pulled away to to perform health assessments on highly endangered plowshare tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) at the Durrell Trust’s Ampijoroa Reserve in western Madagascar. Graham accompanied the final group of four that was transferred in 2000.

Of the 13 lemurs that were transferred, five survived and integrated into the wild population, one did not adjust appropriately and was pulled out of the reserve, and the remaining seven died from predation, falls or unknown causes, or were otherwise unaccounted for.

PUBLICATIONS

MFG: Back to the Wild: http://www.madagascarfaunaflora.org/black--white-ruffed-lemur-restocking-program.html

Britt, A, et al. The re-stocking of captive-bred ruffed lemurs into Betampona Reserve, Madagascar. Biodiversity and Conservation 2004: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000009497.24917.ae