Vol. 15 - Deutsches Primatenzentrum

Lemur News Vol. 15, 2010 Page 29
females may be more interested in food during the breeding
season than the males which,in turn,may be more interested
in the females (Roullet, 1998).
The enrichment made with a branch covered in fruit juice
was the most used by the animals:This is a branch (diameter
of around 5 cm, length of 30-40 cm) in which two trenches
are dug along its length. The branch is fixed onto the mesh
roof. We apply the fruit juice in the trenches with a brush
(Roullet,1998).The animals spend their time licking the juice
out of the branch as they would do with sap in wild (Martin,
1973).
Mixed-species exhibits
Paris Zoo experienced 2 successful combinations:with ayesayes
(Daubentonia madagascariensis) and greater tenrecs
(Tenrec ecaudatus).We tried to put the mouse lemurs in with
slow lorises (Nycticebus coucang), but without success:
wounds were observed on the mouse lemurs’ tails, so they
were removed from the exhibit.
References
Martin, R.D. 1973. A review of the behaviour and ecology of
the lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Pp. 1-68. In:
R.P. Michael; J.H. Crook (eds.). Comparative ecology and
behaviour of primates. Academic Press, London, UK.
Pes, T. 2009. The European Studbook of Grey Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus murinus). Zoo and Botanical Garden Plzen.
Roullet, D. 1998. Effet d’un enrichissement physique sur les
comportements agonistiques et exploratoires de plusieurs
groupes de microcèbes murins (Microcebus murinus)
en captivité. DESS d’Ethologie Appliquée et de Chronobiologie
du Comportement. Université Paris XI.
Articles
Diurnal lemur density in the national
park parcel Ivontaka Nord, UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve of Mananara-Nord
Marta Polasky Lyons
School for International Training, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar;
and Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA,
marta.lyons@gmail.com
Abstract
Here I present a recent diurnal lemur density study performed
in the Biosphere Reserve of Mananara Nord, conducted
between the dates of November 9 and 22, 2008 in
Ivontaka Nord; part of Mananara-Nord National Park. Densities
were calculated using transect walks, and other information
was gathered through interviews with local people
and national park staff. The density of Eulemur fulvus albifrons
appears to be over twice that recorded in other areas
(Table 1), while the density of Varecia variegata variegata
appears to be low,perhaps due to the latter’s preference for
undisturbed habitat and past problems with overhunting. In
addition, Eulemur rubriventer was found to inhabit the park,
though its range was previously thought not to extend east
into the biosphere. Having been, in the past, under strong
pressures from local inhabitants,Ivontaka Nord represents a
disturbed low altitude rainforest;however this report shows
that the lemur populations within the parcel may be recovering.
Introduction
Background
The Biosphere Reserve of Mananara-Nord was created in
1989. It is one of 533 UNESCO (the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Biospheres
around the world.The Biosphere Reserve of Mananara Nord
covers 144,000 ha,with 23,000 ha being devoted to a terrestrial
park,and another 1,000 ha to a marine park.The terrestrial
national park is split into three separate parcels. Going
from north to south these parcels are: Ivontaka Nord,
Ivontaka Sud, and Verezanantsoro. The parcel of Ivontaka
Nord covers an area of only 827 ha.This is small compared to
the other two parcels; Ivontaka Sud and Verezanantsoro,
which are 1,300 ha and 20,685 ha respectively (Fig. 1). These
parcels are connected by forest sections that are not protected
by the national park system (ANGAP, 2005).
Fig.1:National Park of Mananara-Nord.Three parcels in dark
shade,going from north to south:Ivontaka Nord (where this
survey was carried out), Ivontaka Sud, Verezanantsoro.
Source: MNP.
Threats
It is estimated that approximately 1.9 to 2.2 % of the primary
forest within the biosphere is cleared every year, usually for
rice cultivation through tavy (slash and burn agriculture)
(ANGAP, 2005). Besides just destroying necessary habitat,
this deforestation further splits already extremely fragmented
sections of primary forest.Another concern is illegal
(and legal) selective extraction. The population within the
biosphere relies on wood for constructing their houses and
fuel for cooking.In the villages most cooking is done over an
open flame using collected wood.The wood does not simply
go to the villages on the periphery of a forest,but is also collected
for sale in urban centers and areas farther away from
the forest.