CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES: Appendix I (http://www.cites.org)
IUCN Red List: V. variegata: EN A1cd; V. v. variegata:
EN A1cd, B1+2bc; V. v. rubra: CR A2cd, B1+2bc
(http://www.redlist.org)
CITES lists only V. variegata, and considers V. rubra as a synonym of the type.
V. variegata is listed in Appendix I, which includes species threatened with
extinction and in which trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances
(http://www.cites.org).
Varecia variegataPhoto: Pavel Vlcek
IUCN Red List lists V. variegata, and also lists
V. v. variegata and V. v. rubra as subspecies of the type. V. variegata is listed as
Endangered (EN A1cd) which means it is facing a very high risk of extinction in
the wild in the near future due to population reduction in the form of an
observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of a least 50% over the
last 10 years or three generations based on a decline in the area of occupancy,
extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat and due to actual or potential
levels of exploitation. V. v. variegata is listed as Endangered (EN A1cd, B1+2bc)
which means that in addition to the risks and assessments facing V.variegata,
the species also facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near
future due to their extent of occurrence being estimated to be less than 5000
km2 or their area of occupancy being estimated to be less than 500 km2 and
estimates indicate that they face a continuing decline, inferred, observed or
projected, in the area of occupancy and the area, extent and/or quality of
habitat. V. v. rubra is listed as Critically Endangered (CR A2cd, B1+2bc) which
means that the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the
wild in the immediate future due to a population reduction in the form of a
reduction of at least 80%, projected or suspected to be met within the next 10
years or three generations due to a decline in area of occupancy, extent of
occurrence and/or quality of habitat and actual or potential levels of
exploitation. In addition, the extent of occurrence is estimated to be less
than 100 km2 or the area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 km2 and
estimates indicate that the species is severely fragmented or known to exist
only at a single location and a continuing decline is observed, inferred or
projected in area of occupancy and the area, extent and/or quality of habitat
(http://www.redlist.org).
CONSERVATION THREATS
Threat: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation
As with other primates, habitat loss through deforestation is a significant
threat to the ruffed lemur. In fact, lemurs are in more grave danger of
becoming extinct than most other primates and are most threatened by habitat
destruction and hunting (Ganzhorn et al. 1996/1997). Deforestation on
Madagascar is undertaken to support subsistence agriculture, cash crops and
provide firewood and is especially damaging in river valleys and on the coast
(Simons & Lindsay 1987). On the Masoala peninsula, the only habitat of V. rubra,
slash and burn agriculture (tavy) is practiced seasonally between October and
December and is expanding (Vasey 1996). Also, in some cases, cattle allowed to
free-range over former agricultural clearings prevent the re-growth of forest
(Evans et al. 1993-1994). However, ruffed lemurs are present in and can survive
in very disturbed habitats, albeit probably at far lower densities that in
natural habitats (Simons & Lindsay 1987).
Selective logging for certain sizes and species of trees affects ruffed lemurs
differently than other lemur species because of their reliance on larger trees
and the fruits of certain hardwoods. Several species of tree preferred for
construction materials are also preferred by ruffed lemurs, so even if a forest
is only selectively logged for such materials, the species is still affected.
Forest exploitation which does not completely destroy the habitat can also
potentially affect ruffed lemur travel routes through the canopy (White et al.
1995).
Threat: Harvesting (hunting/gathering)
Trapping and hunting with traditional weapons of ruffed lemurs occurs as a
source of subsistence for local inhabitants (Simons & Lindsay 1987; Evans et al.
1993-1994). Two types of hunting threaten the ruffed lemurs of the Masoala
peninsula; using traditional traps across cut swaths of forest (laly) and using
firearms (Vasey 1996). The hunting season in this region is between May and
September and local attitudes show that while hunting is recognized as illegal,
laws are generally not enforced and the local inhabitants are not ashamed about
their use of the lemurs (Vasey 1996). Hunting is probably the greatest threat
to the lemurs of the Masoala peninsula because while logging and slash and burn
agriculture conceivably could be curtailed, hunting would continue (Vasey 1996).
Also, even in regions where hunting of lemurs has stopped, hunters pursuing
other quarry sometimes adversely affect ruffed lemurs by inadvertently chasing
them from favorite food sources. Finally, ruffed lemurs are sometimes also
taken alive from their natural habitats as pets or tourist curiosities
(Ratsimbazafy 2002).
Threat: Natural Disasters
Tropical cyclones can have a severe impact on ruffed lemurs. In one case, a
cyclone destroyed 80% of the forest canopy in a ruffed lemur habitat, severely
impacting the large trees the species relies on for food and other aspects of
its ecology (Ratsimbazafy 2002). In the ensuing several years, the ruffed
lemurs broadened their diet to stave off starvation but remained surprisingly
frugivorous. Because of a reduction in body weight resulting from the
destruction of food sources, no births were reported for four years among the
ruffed lemurs affected by the cyclone (Ratsimbazafy 2002). Thus, tropical
storms can represent a significant threat to an already stressed species. It is
suggested however that the high reproductive capacity and litter size of the
ruffed lemur might be an adaptation to counter such natural occurrences
(Ratsimbazafy 2002).
SPECIAL NOTES
Starting in 1997 a captive-bred reintroduction program was started to reinforce
a population of black-and-white ruffed lemurs at Betampona natural reserve in
eastern Madagascar (Britt et al. 1988). To date, the program has met with some
success, including the successful integration of a male individual into a wild
group (Britt et al. 2000). In addition, an introduced male and female have both
successfully bred with wild individuals (Britt et al. 2003).
LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION INFORMATION
CONSERVATION NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN Varecia CONSERVATION
Content last modified: August 17, 2007
Written by Kurt Gron.
Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2007 August 17. Primate Factsheets: Ruffed lemur (Varecia) Conservation. <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ruffed_lemur/cons>. Accessed 2008 May 15.
