First Prosimian Husbandry Workshop 2009 - Cleveland Metroparks ...

Session 7: Prosimian Mixed Species Exhibits:
(Moderator Monica Mogilewsky, Lemur Conservation Foundation)
Topics
Introduction to the session
Goals of Mixed Species Exhibits
Advantages of Mixed Species Exhibits
Challenges of Mixed Species Exhibits
Solutions to Mixed Species Challenges
Close
Moderator (Monica Mogilwesky): How many institutions have mixed-species lemur exhibits? (Lots of
raised hands.)
Moderator (Monica Mogilewsky): What species are people putting together:
Cats of the World: brown and ring-tailed
Potter Park: red ruffed and mongoose
Capron Park Zoo: black and white ruffed and coronotus
Advantages of Mixed Species Groups:
• (Desiree Haneman): to provide companionship for social outcasts
• (Jacqueline Broder): because director thinks mongoose lemurs are boring; to make exhibits
more interesting.
• (Helena Fitch Snyder): for nocturnals, to make exhibits more interesting, to maximize use of
space
• To make animals more active
• (Kris Arnold): to educate the public that there are many types of lemurs, not just ring-tailed and
ruffed lemurs. They have a gorgeous red-fronted brown lemur. Provides educational
opportunities with camps.
• (Sarah Armstrong): but generally ring-tailed lemurs are the most successful in mixed-species
groups.
Disadvantages of Mixed-Species Groups:
• Ring tailed and ruffed just aren’t getting along
• (Laura Suski): E. flavifrons will not tolerate other animals; Vaercia won’t tolerate other
animals either
• Moderator (Monica Mogilewsky): complexity of managing groups is increased; have multiple
group dynamics to regulate.
• (Karen Weisenseel): know that species can be aggressive. Cheirogaleus broke the neck of
galago in one exhibit she worked with.
• (Mike Dulaney): have to watch diets for nocturnals housed with diurnals (and in general)
• Moderator (Monica Mogilewsky): diet issues are common, particularly with mongoose lemurs
which will tend to overeat.
• (Laura Suski): Diet issues are common, they feed different chows to different species so it may
be better to house species together that have similar diets.
• Management pushes for mixed-species exhibits.
• (Helena Fitch Snyder): disease issues. Lorises housed with provost’s squirrels have died from
infectious disease contracted from squirrels; lorises carry a parasite that is fatal to callitrichids.
• (Tad Schoffner): we had a prevost’s squirrel give pasturela to a loris.
• Moderator (Monica Mogilewsky): we may not know disease risks until too late.
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