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 Project Betampona is a project of the Madagascar Fauna Group
(MFG) that entails reintroducing zoo-born black and white ruffed
lemurs back into their native habitat in Madagascar. This project
stands as one of the world's few successful reintroductions.
The local ruffed lemur population in Betampona numbers just 35
individuals and without genetic reinforcements this geographically
isolated wild population is predicted to become extinct within
100 years. The new lemurs bring both additional numbers and new
genes to the population.
So far, three groups of lemurs have been released. The first
group did very well, with multiple animals surviving for more
than a year in the wild, successful reproduction, and survival
of offspring. The second group faired less well, with most of
the animals either disappearing or falling prey to Madagascar's
largest carnivore, the fossa (Cryptoprocta
ferox). During a particularly
difficult year, several members of the first group were also
killed by fossa. A third group, a mother and three sons, were
released in January of 2001. This group appears to be adapting
well to life in the wild.
The lemurs are the centerpiece of the MFG's larger conservation
program for the Betampona Reserve, one of very few remaining
tracts of lowland rainforest in eastern Madagascar. The program
encompasses increased protection of the reserve, surveys and
field research on a variety of species, educational opportunities
and training for Malagasy students and local residents, and teacher
training, and educational outreach in surrounding villages.
Project goals include:
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significantly improve the conservation status
of the reserve.
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systematically determine the viability of wild releases
of captive-bred lemurs as a conservation strategy in Madagascar
while bolstering a faltering population.
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serve as a case study in the growing field of research
into the biology and effectiveness of population reinforcement
as a means of restoring species.
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stimulate and facilitate research on the dynamics of small
populations and the effects of habitat fragmentation on species
in rainforest ecosystems
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engender pride in the reserve and in the black and white
ruffed lemur as a flagship species
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The Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program of the Minnesota Zoo awarded Project
Betampona: Re-introduction of black and white ruffed lemurs into
Madagascar $2500 in 2004 for its work monitoring and studying the
reintroduced lemurs and its continued efforts to better protect
the reserve. Staff champion for this project is Kevin Willis.
Photograph courtesy of David Haring, Duke University Primate
Center
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