First Prosimian Husbandry Workshop 2009 - Cleveland Metroparks ...

Pedigree Reconstruction Project
Need to collect blood, tissue or hair samples from all living or dead ring-tail lemurs in the SSP. Over
the past four years we have verified samples that have been submitted.
Prosimian TAG
The mission of the Prosimian TAG is to complement, promote and participate in the efforts to
conserve prosimians in nature and to advance the highest levels of animal welfare. The main
responsibility of the TAG is the regional collection plan. First, we look at the conservation status of all
prosimians via the IUCN ratings. As a TAG, you must do a space assessment for your institution. The
TAG created a flowchart to decide how to select that taxa to be housed in North American institutions.
Within the TAG, umbrella SSPs were created: nocturnal, eulemur, ring-tail, ruffed and propithecus.
There are other programs that the populations can be managed under such as a PMP (population
management plan) or a DERP (display/education/research populations). There are also phase-out
populations or species that are not recommended. One phase out population is the bamboo lemur.
Hybrids are SSP animals, but must be assessed to see which are viable to work with.
Ex. Eulemur: The current population is 246 and the target population is 215. Certain species are
listedas breeding or exhibit only.
We are also working with Europe and Australia on management plans. You can also find many
documents within the prosimian taxon advisory group.
Comment (Chris Kuhar.): If a species is exhibit only, the species is still managed by the SSP and are
part of the population even if they are going to be phased out.
Moderator (Lynne Villers): We may still have a need for that animal within the SSP.
Question: Do SSPs ever recommend sterilization?
Moderator (Lynne Villers): Yes, but it is not taken lightly. If an institution is considering this, they
should talk to the SSP coordinator.
Question (Dawn Stone): Why are bamboo lemurs being phased out, because of lack of numbers? Can
we get some from Europe?
Moderator (Lynne Villers): Duke is looking into this, but the current numbers are passing away. At
this point, we will let Europe work on this and see what happens. The TAG is open to discussions, but
also don’t want to be overly flexible.
Comment (Ingrid Porton): Europe is having trouble finding enough space for their allotrensis. We are
working on an exchange between Ivo Louin in Madagascar and Europe. Sinus is the species of
Hapalemur if we do want to bring these animals in.
Comment (Chris Kuhar): It is a lot more complicated than working with Europe. We had planned to
send Europe rubriventer, but the individuals were old and they would prefer prime breeding animals.
Question (Tad Schoffner): Are institutions more willing to devote more space to prosimians?
Answer (Chris Kuhar): Everyone says they want more individuals, but none are adding groups.
Everyone wants huge groups which is not practical. Omaha is the only institution recently that has
built for prosimians.
Comment (Ingrid Porton): There is no difference in space. Institutions need to have space to hold the
offspring.
Comment (Chris Kuhar): This is why we need to phase out species with small numbers because we
need the space for breeding SSP species.
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