Lemur Day at Tierpark Berlin to Encourage Species Conservation

The lemur day will take place on Saturday, 5 September 2015 in Tierpark Berlin with the support of the sponsoring association of the Tierpark and Zoo Berlin (Fördergemeinschaft von Tierpark and Zoo Berlin e. V.). We draw attention to the "Red Ruffed Lemur Conservation Project" project on Madagascar with exclusive guided tours and Infostand.

Deforestation, forest clearance and poaching destroy the habitat

The ruffed lemurs are part of the greater lemur family and live in the treetops of the moist evergreen rainforests of eastern and northeastern Madagascar. There are red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra) as well as black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). The red ruffed lemur is one of the 25 most endangered primate species worldwide.

Deforestation and the use of fire for forest clearance has destroyed much of the original natural vegetation of Madagascar. This means that the habitat of the red ruffed lemur is declining year-on-year. The red ruffed lemurs are also threatened by illegal poaching.

Tierpark Berlin plays an active role in the protection of ruffed lemurs.

The ruffed lemur project is firstly committed to the breeding of red ruffed lemurs in human captivity, such as zoos and animal parks, but also to re-settling ruffed lemurs back into the wild. Before any success is guaranteed, however, we must ensure that their habitat is secured in the long term.

Together with international partners, such as the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), GERP (Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates), MEF (Ministre de l’Environnement, de l’Ecologie, de la Mer et des Forêts) and Antogil Conservation, the project aims to draw attention to the threats facing red ruffed lemurs in their original habitat.

Interested guests to the lemur day at Tierpark Berlin can expect an Infostand with grand tombola from 9 a.m. in the Lemur Woods. Three guided sessions for 15 participants each will also take place. These take place at 11 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and cot 5 euro per person. Visitors can register on-site at the designated stand to take part in the tours, which will take a look behind the scenes at lemur life in the Tierpark. The species conservation group of the sponsoring association will conduct the lemur day with the support of vet Dr. Andreas Pauly and biologist Ulrike Barnett from the Tierpark Berlin.

The following seven types of lemurs live in Tierpark Berlin: Red and black-white ruffed lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, black, collared brown, red-bellied and mongoose lemurs. With one of the largest lemur collections in Germany, the Tierpark actively and successfully makes a contribution to the conservation of the endangered prosimians. Currently, 350 red ruffed lemurs live in zoos and animal parks across Europe.

Tierpark Berlin is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m..