The BIOPARCs in Fuengirola and Valencia are home to the largest variety of lemurs in Spain and, together with the Foundation, are actively involved in the conservation of Madagascar's impressive biodiversity, with more than 80% of species endemic. A tour of the enclosure, which recreates the habitats of the exotic island, is a unique experience where you can also meet the exceptional fossa. The arrival of the young male is a recommendation of the international conservation program that seeks to ensure the survival of this endangered lemur.
Madagascar, the largest island in Africa and the fourth in the world, is a true jewel, both for its immense natural beauty and for its extraordinary biodiversity, being one of the so-called “hot spots” most important in the world. Its isolated location in the Indian Ocean when it separated from the African continent 160 million years ago, gave rise to a unique evolution with a 80% of endemic species.
All this wonderful nature is seriously threatened with shocking data, since it is estimated that it has lost 90% of its forest mass (about 50% in the last 75 years) and 96% of the 111 species of lemurs that exist are in danger of disappearing.
This is the young red-collared lemur that has just arrived at BIOPARC Valencia.
BIOPARC was born with the objective of protect the impressive environmental wealth of our planet And in this sense, Madagascar plays a special role. The tour through a faithful recreation of the unique tsingy formations allows you to walk among six species of lemurs and see the island's largest predator, the very rare grave (Cryptoprocta ferox).
In addition to bringing knowledge to raise awareness about its preservation, the park acts directly in the salvation of these species, in this sense, it has recently received a young red-ringed lemur (Varecia rubra) aged 3, from Vesprem Zoo (Hungary) to form a group with the other 17-year-old male already housed at BIOPARC. With the alarming classification of This lemur is listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature), it is vital to act globally, as recommended by this same organization, highlighting the work of parks in the international conservation programs (EEP) for threatened species, within which this movement has been carried out.
Lemurs at BIOPARC.
The BIOPARC has the largest variety of lemurs in Spain. and in both parks an exclusive area allows you to observe the most well-known, ring-tailed (Lemur catta), also that of red necklace and black and white necklace (Varecia variegata variegata); Fuengirola also provides shelter to the black lemur (Eulemur macaque), while in Valencia you can also see the red-bellied one (Eulemur rubriventer), mongoose (Eulemur mongoz) and red-fronted (Eulemur rufus).
The BIOPARC Foundation and the in situ conservation of lemurs.
On the other hand, to defend this immense diversity of life, the so-called in situ conservation, promoting projects in the habitat of origin through the BIOPARC Foundation. In this way, an effective union is carried out with the conservation community to face the great challenge of stopping the environmental degradation of Madagascar, while implementing a effective recovery activityIn this case, with the Sahamalaza Project, an area declared a Biosphere Reserve, which has a positive impact on several species of lemurs.
The male is currently in the process of adaptation in the quarantine facility, where they have various indoor and outdoor spaces designed and enriched with elements for their well-being and to develop their innate behavior. Acclimatization to the outdoor multi-species enclosure will then begin.
