Greater bamboo lemur
Prolemur simus

CONSERVATION STATUS

CITES: Appendix I (What is CITES?)
IUCN Red List: P. simus: CR (What is Red List?)
Key: CR = Critically endangered
(Click on species name to see IUCN Red List entry, including detailed status assessment information.)

Photo: Cedric Girard-Buttoz

The critically endangered greater bamboo lemur is one of the World's 25 Most Endangered Primates and may have some of the lowest surviving numbers of any primate, estimated at between only 100 and 160 individuals left in the wild (Wright et al. 2008; Mittermeier et al. 2009; Wright et al. 2009). Unfortunately, there are no truly workable breeding programs of captive individuals (Tan 2006). Populations are protected only in the Ranomafana and Andringitra National Parks and are discontinuous and patchy (Mutschler & Tan 2003). They are also said to be particularly vulnerable due to their narrow and specific diet, making them highly susceptible to local habitat disturbance (Tan 2006).

Threat: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation

As is the case with all lemurs, one of the predominant threats to the greater bamboo lemur is habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation (Tan 2006). To put its profound modern habitat loss in perspective, the current range is estimated to represent only 1-4% of its former range (Wright et al. 2008). Slash-and-burn agricultural activities are a main threat to habitat although bamboo harvesting, mining, and timber exploitation also degrade suitable forests (Meier & Rumpler 1987; Mutschler & Tan 2003; Dolch et al. 2008).

Threat: Harvesting (hunting/gathering)

P. simus are threatened by subsistence hunters using slingshots and snares (Meier & Rumpler 1987; Mittermeier et al. 2006).

LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION INFORMATION

• No current links for Prolemur simus
• Links for all species

CONSERVATION NEWS

• New hope for world's rarest lemur species in Madagascar  (BBC; March 1, 2011)
• Scientists provide a lifeline for Madagascar's "panda"  (Conservation International; October 6, 2009)
• Extended habitat for the greater bamboo lemur: NGOs  (Associated Press; October 5, 2009)
• New Rare Lemur Group Found in Swamp  (National Geographic News; July 22, 2008)
• Links for all species

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN Prolemur simus CONSERVATION

• Madagascar Fauna Group (MFG)

Content last modified: July 22, 2010

Written by Kurt Gron.

Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2010 July 22. Primate Factsheets: Greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) Conservation . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/greater_bamboo_lemur/cons>. Accessed 2013 May 18.