First Prosimian Husbandry Workshop 2009 - Cleveland Metroparks ...

Response (Tad Schoffner): We had a low-ranking male and he went crazy scent-marking on the
island until he was exhausted.
Response (Karen Weisenseel): Hediger says don’t clean too much for the loris.
Response (Monica Mogilewsky): Same is true for crowned lemurs.
Question (Monica Mogilewksy.): Does anyone get sores (nest box callus) under tail from scent
marking or sitting on nest box? Is there a material besides wood to be used?
Response (Karen Weisenseel): You need something porous or also you need to be careful with
what you’re cleaning with or treating wood with.
Response (Desiree Haneman): You can use corkwood.
Response (Julie Taylor): We have plastic shelves, but we see the problem.
Response (Monica Mogilewsky): We see this in multiple species.
Response (Laura Suski): It helps to heavily branch on top of the box.
Lorisidae Light Cycle Behavior Study Data Discussion (Grace Fuller, CMZ)
There are currently many different practices employed by different institutions which leads the
stage for more research. I collected 12 hours of data for each animal. The individuals spent the
most time resting, asleep or in their nest boxes. Activity levels are low, regardless of lighting.
Active behaviors did occur throughout the day. 10 AM is the time the animals are fed and the
building is open to the public which may have an influence. My central hypothesis is that high
intensity lighting alters circadian rhythms of activity and hormones in captive lorisines. I am using
three lines of research to address lighting, activity and health. The first part of my research will
include a survey and records review. The second part of this research will involve validating the
use of accelerometers. The third part of this study will look at changing lighting on behavior and
health. We are particularly interested in suppression of melatonin. Blue light knocks out
melatonin more than other wavelengths, which is not a good thing. Zoos can help by filling out in
survey, sending copies of medical and diet records, contribute banked serum, participate in an
actigraph study and participate in lighting study.
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