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Forest access restores foraging and ranging behavior in captive sifakas
Lydia K Greene1,2, Jean-Basile Andriambeloson3, Marina B Blanco1,2
1The Duke Lemur Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Zoo Biology
|October 17, 2022
Summary
Captive Coquerel's sifakas at the Duke Lemur Center exhibit natural foraging and ranging behaviors similar to wild populations. These findings highlight the importance of ecologically informed management for captive primates.
Area of Science:
- Primate Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Captive wildlife management benefits from ecologically informed strategies.
- The Duke Lemur Center (DLC) utilizes species' ecology in husbandry programs for lemurs.
- Coquerel's sifakas (Propithecus coquereli) are seasonal frugo-folivores with known feeding flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically document foraging and ranging patterns of Coquerel's sifakas in forest enclosures.
- To compare captive sifaka behavior with wild populations.
- To assess the expression of natural behaviors in captive primates under ecologically relevant conditions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted all-day follows of 14 Coquerel's sifakas over two consecutive spring/summer seasons.
- Tracked behavior within six multiacre forest enclosures.
- Recorded ranging distances, home range sizes, and time spent foraging.
Main Results:
- DLC sifakas occupied 1.2 ha 3-day home ranges and traveled 473 m/day.
- Foraging occupied 26% of their time, focusing on leaves, fruits, nuts, and flowers from 39 plant species.
- Foraging patterns showed seasonal, enclosure, and group variations, mirroring wild sifaka behavior.
Conclusions:
- Captive-bred Coquerel's sifakas demonstrate wild-like behaviors in forest enclosures.
- Results underscore the feeding flexibility of this species.
- Captive animals exhibiting species-specific behaviors are valuable for research and potential reintroduction programs.
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