Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. The word "lemur" derives from the word lemures (ghosts or spirits) from Roman mythology and was first used to describe a slender loris due to its nocturnal habits and slow pace, but was later applied to the primates on Madagascar. As with other strepsirrhine primates, such as lorises, pottos, and galagos (bush babies), lemurs share resemblance with basal primates.
BLACK AND WHITE RUFFED LEMURS ( VARECIA VARIEGATA VARIEGATA )
These stunningly-beautiful lemurs are most easily identified by their black and white markings and thick coats. We often think of them as miniature polar-bears, well protected against our cold winters. READ MORE
RINGTAIL LEMUR (LEMUR CATTA)
These furry and relatively placid pro-simians are the latest additions to our sanctuary. They can almost always be seen basking in the sun, sitting in a meditative position much like that of a yoga instructor! READ MORE
Conservation in Southern Africa is rapidly becoming unsustainable without the active involvement of the community, especially the younger, more active generation. The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary and The Elephant Sanctuary group strongly believe that we have to get the younger members of communities involved to instill a passion for the environment and wildlife in them through education.
I'll introduce you to Joyce, for example. A young female capuchin, she was rather pampered with child-like paraphernalia; a dress and a small hat around her head. Cute, indeed. She had been with her "foster" family since only two months old, bought straight from a breeder. The couple who owned her did not have children, and so decided to substitute the missing link with a primate, albeit a bit smaller...and with sharper teeth.
