Black lemur (Eulemur macaco)

Species information

Videos and images

Threats

This species is threatened by habitat destruction, hunting for meat or fur, and by trapping for the pet trade (2).

Conservation

The back lemur occurs in three protected areas in Madagascar but its range is limited and its distribution patchy (2). Sclater’s lemurpopulations are even lower as this subspecies seems less adaptable to the disturbed forest (2). A national park has been proposed within this lemur’s range, and it is hoped that this will allow this species to recover (2). However, the threats facing Madagascar’s forests are so great it seems unlikely the black lemur will recover without intervention. Captive breeding projects in association with the Species Survival Plan are now being co-ordinated by the St. Louis Zoological Park in the United States. Fortunately lemurs breed well in captivity and it is hoped that reintroducing these lemurs may be successful and boost wild populations in the near future (9).