Golden Bamboo Lemur - Hapalemur aureus

Golden Bamboo Lemur - Hapalemur aureus Meier, Albignac, Peyrieras, Rumpler, Wright, 1987.

IUCN STATUS CATEGORY Critically Endangered

HABITAT Rain forest with abundant bamboo. Associated especially with the endemic giant bamboo Cephalostachium viguieri.

GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD Endemic to Madagascar. The Golden Bamboo Lemur has a range restricted to south-eastern Madagascar near the village of Ranomafana. Now known to occur in the 31,160ha Andringitra Strict Nature Reserve; since a 1993 survey of the area by the WWF (Jenkins, M., pers comm.).

CURRENT POPULATION Total population unknown, estimated at 1,000 in Ranomafana National Park.

SIZE Total length adult male 74cm. Female 80cm.

WEIGHT Adult weight 1.5kg.

AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY Unknown.

NORMAL DIET The base of bamboo leaves and all new growth.

NORMAL LIFESTYLE Lives in small family groups of two to six individuals. Groups have a territory of about 80ha. Appears to be most active in the morning, but is also probably active at night.

PREVIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD South of Ifanadiana was probably an important location for Bamboo Lemurs until 25 years or so ago. The suitable habitat has now been destroyed.

REASONS FOR DECLINE Loss of habitat to slash and burn agriculture. Possibly hunting for food and as pets.

CURRENT THREATS Same as the reasons for decline.

CONSERVATION PROJECTS Four areas of land totalling 41,600ha around Ranomafana were notified as Ranomafana National Park in 1991. The actual villages inside are not included in the park. Also occurs in the 31,160ha Andringitra Strict Nature Reserve. Malagasy national law protects all lemurs but is difficult to enforce. Two animals captured in 1987 had produced three offspring in captivity by 1992. None are held outside of Madagascar.

SPECIAL FEATURES The Golden Bamboo Lemur was discovered in 1987, it is one of the most threatened primates in Madagascar. Young bamboo shoots eaten by the Golden Bamboo Lemur are very high in toxins which are lethal to most mammals.

REFERENCES

Harcourt, C. & Thornback, J. 1990. Lemurs of Madagascar and the Comoros. The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN 1992. Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Volume 3: Afrotropical. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xxii + 360pp.

Meier, B. & Rumpler, Y. 1987. Preliminary survey of Hapalemur simus and of a new species ofHapalemur in Eastern Betsileo, Madagascar. Primate Conservation 8:40-43.

Mittermeier, R.A., Konstant, W.R., Nicholl, M.E. & Langrand, O. (eds). 1992. Lemurs of Madagascar: An action plan for their conservation 1993-1999. IUCN, Gland. 58pp.

Meier, B., Albignac, R., Peyriéras, A., Rumpler, Y. & Wright, P. 1987. A New Species of Hapalemur (Primates) from South East Madagascar. Folia Primatologia. 48: 211-215.

This information has been made available with help from WWF and Chevron.

We regret that we cannot provide more general species information of this type. For further information, we suggest you browse the web or go to your local library or bookstore. You will find species information and other conservation information on the WWF web site.