Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T13:05:37.940Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Part-Time Fostering by a Pair of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia Variegata Variegata)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

F J Kerridge
F J Kerridge*
Affiliation:
Bolton Primate Research Team, Biology and Environmental Studies, Bolton Institute, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Twin infant black and white ruffed lemurs, male and female, were fostered on a part-time basis, in conjunction with hand-rearing, with an adult pair who were highly related to them. The adult female showed allomaternal behaviour towards the twins, although she did not attempt to suckle them. The adult male ignored the twins for the first few weeks but as they became more mobile and playful he frequently initiated play with one or both. Growth rates showed a significant trend when compared with parentally raised and hand-reared infants, with the fostered twins growing at rates intermediate between those found under the two other rearing methods. Fostering of rejected infants as a captive management strategy is advocated as an alternative to traditional hand-rearing techniques because of the welfare advantages to both infants and foster parents.

Keywords

alloparental careanimal welfarecaptive managementhand-rearingruffed lemur
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 1999 , pp. 35 - 42
Copyright
© 1999 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Beck, B B and Power, M L 1988 Correlates of sexual and maternal competence in captive gorillas. Zoo Biology 7: 339–350CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benirschke, K and Miller, C J 1981 Weights and neonatal growth of ringtailed lemurs (L. catta) and ruffed lemurs (L. variegatus). Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine 12: 107–111CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brockman, D K, Willis, M S and Karesh, W B 1987 Management and husbandry of ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata, at the San Diego Zoo. II. Reproduction, pregnancy, parturition, litter size, infant care and reintroduction of hand raised infants. Zoo Biology 6: 349–363CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downman, M 1993 Breeding behaviour in the black and white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata variegata, at the Cotswold Wildlife Park. Ratel 20: 87–91Google Scholar
Hick, U 1984 Haltung, Zucht und Künstliche Aufzucht von Varis (Varecia variegata) im Kölner Zoo. Zeitschrift Des Kölner Zoo 27: 123–138Google Scholar
Hrdy, S B 1976 Care and exploitation of nonhuman primate infants by conspecifics other than the mother. Advances in The Study of Behaviour 6: 101–158CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancaster, J 1971 Play-mothering: the relations between juvenile females and young infants among freeranging vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Folia Primatologica 15: 161–182CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meier, J E and Willis, M S 1984 Techniques for hand-raising neonatal ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) and (Varecia variegata rubra) and a comparison of hand-raised and maternally raised animals. Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine 15: 24–31CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morland, H S 1990 Parental behaviour and infant development in ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in a northeast Madagascar rain forest. American Journal of Primatology 20: 253–265CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereira, M E, Klepper, A and Simons, E L 1987 Tactics of care for young infants by forest-living ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata): Ground nests, parking and biparental guarding. American Journal of Primatology 13: 129–144Google ScholarPubMed
Pereira, M E, Seeligson, M L and Macedonia, J M 1988 The behavioural repertoire of the black and white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata variegata (Primates: Lemuridae). Folia Primatologica 51: 1–32CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Snowdon, CT, Savage, A and McConnell, P B 1985 A breeding colony of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Laboratory Animal Science 35: 477–480Google ScholarPubMed