| |
Photograph © San Francisco Zoo
|
|
|
This species is listed as endangered by both the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the 2003 IUCN Redlist. It is protected from
trade under Appendix I by CITES. Logging threatens the habitat
of the red ruffed lemur, which occurs at low densities and is
rare throughout its shrinking range. They are particularly susceptible
to habitat disturbances, linked to high dependence on the large
fruiting trees in the primary forests. They are also hunted for
food and collected for pets. The SSP manages a controlled breeding
program in captivity to maintain their genetics into the future.
A new national park that covers half of their limited range was
established in 1997.
|