White-fronted Lemur

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The white-fronted lemur has a head-body length of approximately 50 cm, and the tail is about 60 cm long. The weight is in the order of 3 kgs but varies during the year. The fur is olive-brown. The face is black. otherwise the male has a pure white head and neck, whereas the female has a grey head. The tail is brown-black with a black tip

Did you know?
that white-fronted lemurs, as other lemurs, have a grooming claw, i.e. a laterally compressed nail tip, on the second toe of the hind foot?

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	PRIMATES
Suborder	PROSIMIA
Family	LEMURIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Eulemur fulvus albifrons
Name (English)	White-fronted Lemur
Name (French)	Lémur à front blanc
Name (German)	Weisskopfmaki
Name (Spanish)	Lémur de Frente Blanco
Local names	Malagasy: Varika
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Adam Britt

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Eastern Madagascar
Habitat	Rainforest
Wild population	Approx. > 100'000
Zoo population	115 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 31 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
L. Haefner

Why do zoos keep this animal

White-fronted lemur , being social, diurnal, and appealing looking, are a good ambassador species for the threatened fauna and habitats of Madagascar. The white-fronted lemur is also a species which can be displayed in "Walk-thru" exhibits, allowing for close encounters between animals and people. The public should, however, not be allowed to feed the animals.

How this animal should be kept

White-fronted lemurs are social animals and should be kept in pairs or family groups. In spacious exhibits with natural vegetation they can be associated with other lemur species.

In temperate and cold climates, white-fronted lemurs must have both an indoor and an outdoor enclosure. Minimum requirements: indoors surface 15 m², height 2.5 m, room temperature at least 15°C, in places higher (radiators). The day phase should be around 12 hours. Vertical and horizontal climbing opportunities, horizontal benches or platforms allowing the group to sit together in close contact, sleeping boxes in the upper part of the enclosure. There should be two nesting boxes per breeding female. Outdoor enclosures must have a size of at least 40 m², height 2.5 m, but preference should be given to larger exhibits with a grass cover, bushes and live trees in addition to dead trees, ropes, climbing frames etc.

Food should be offered at least three times per day, It should consist of a variety of fruit and vegetables, branches in leaf as well as some animal protein.