Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Global Population Estimate

• Populations decreasing
  • Global estimate unknown (Murphy et al. 2017; A. Murphy, personal communication, 2018)
    • At a minimum, approximately 2,200 individuals (data from 32 sites, many more sites unsurveyed) (LaFleur et al. 2016)
      • Literature note: Conclusion of Gould and Sauther (2016) overstates the severity of this species' decline, as critiqued by Murphy et al. (2017)
  • Decline driven by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and illegal pet trade (LaFleur et al. 2016)
    • Sussman et al. (2006) estimated there were about 750,000 individuals estimated in 2000 and 933,000 individuals in 1985
• Regional estimates (from Andriaholinirina et al. 2014)
  • Berenty Reserve
    • Population density
      • Gallery forest: 2.5 individuals/ha
      • Scrub and spiny forest: 1.3 individuals/ha
      • Highest density near tourist front
    • Total population in reserve
      • c. 280 individuals within the 20 ha (0.08 mi²) reserve
  • Bealoka fragment population
    • Population density
      • 1.67 individuals/ha
    • Total population
      • c. 167 individuals within the 100 ha (0.39 mi²) region
  • Cap Ste. Marie
    • Population density
      • 0.017 individuals/ha
  • Tsimanampetsotsa National Park
    • Population density
      • 0.10 individuals/ha
    • Characteristics of park population
      • Total numbers unknown
      • 2 groups inhabit the 195 ha (0.75 mi²) park
  • Beza Mahafaly Reserve
    • Population density
      • Parcel 1: 0.23 individuals/ha
    • Total population
      • 225 individuals counted in 980 ha (3.78 mi²) survey in 2006
  • See Andriaholinirina et al. 2014 for other regional details
    • Includes Anja Community Reserve, Tsaranoro forest, Andranobe village reserve, the Ambatotsirongorongo fragment, and the Petriky fragment

IUCN Status

• Endangered (2018 assessment) (LaFleur and Gould 2020)
• Historical listing
  • 2014 - Endangered
  • 2008 - Near Threatened
  • 2000, 1996, 1990 - Vulnerable
  • 1988, 1986 - Insufficiently known

CITES Status

• Appendix I (UNEP 2020)
  • First listed under Appendix II in 1975, then elevated to Appendix I in 1977
  • Trade of ring-tailed lemurs and their products is strictly regulated

Other

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  • Endangered
    • All members of Family Lemuridae were listed in 1970
• African Convention
  • "A" rating; rated in 1969
    • Prohibits hunting, killing, capturing, or collection except for scientific or national interest purposes
    • Approval must be obtained from the highest competent authority

Increased Enforcement of Legal Protection

• Laws insufficiently enforced

Expand Research

• Conduct further population surveys
  • Needed to better determine distribution and species abundance
• Improve research coordination
  • Better coordination between institutions with captive populations and field oriented conservation organizations needed

Persecution by Humans

• Hunted for food
  • Dogs often used to track groups
  • Traditional local taboos against hunting lemurs are beginning to disappear
• Captured and kept as pets

Habitat Destruction

• Significant ongoing long-term habitat disturbance
  • Habitat loss continues at a rapid rate
  • L. catta rebounds quickly after a short term environmental disturbance, such as drought
• Overgrazing
• Fires
  • Slash and burn agriculture not common in species' home range
• Tree-cutting for charcoal production

Predation

• Canopy predators
  • Birds of prey
  • Snakes
• Terrestrial predators
  • Domestic cats, dogs, and fossa

Ring-tailed lemurs are highly vulnerable to long-term habitat disturbances.

Small populations are often geographically isolated, which exacerbates the impacts of habitat loss and limits recovery.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Altman, Doyle and Izard (1995)
Andriaholinirina et al. (2014)
Mittermeier et al. (1992)
Sauther (2002)