Ring-tailed lemur
Lemur catta
There is a high risk associated with keeping this species as a pet. This is not a suitable pet.
© Tony Rakoto
Assessment results
High risk
Conservation | High risk
This animal is threatened by extinction in the wild, and there is global demand which is creating potentially more unsustainable and illegal poaching of the species. By having it as a pet creates more demand for these animals, which can worsen their situation in the wild. Learn more about wildlife conservation and the pet trade.
Legality | High risk
This animal is either protected by national law, is restricted to import into the US, and/or many states do not allow ownership. Keeping these protected or prohibited species can have legal consequences for the owner, including fines or bans on pet ownership or sale. Learn more about relevant exotic pet trade and ownership laws.
Human and public health | High risk
It is likely that this animal is a threat to human or public health due to potential life-threatening zoonotic diseases and physical attributes that can harm humans. Learn more about animal-related illness and injuries.
Invasiveness | Low risk
This species would not likely impact native biodiversity or habitats. However, never release a pet into the wild for any reason.
Animal welfare | High risk
Care, diet, and housing needs of this species are extremely difficult to meet for its lifetime, and potential owners are unlikely to be able to provide a good quality of life. Learn more about the challenges with exotic pet welfare.
⚠️ Important considerations
- Ring-tailed lemur populations are declining in the wild and they are an endangered species, targeted for collection and illegal pet trade.
- Check your local laws on lemur ownership. In most US states, primate ownership is illegal or restricted. It is also illegal to import any non-human primate to the US for pet trade.
- Lemurs, especially those that come from the wild, are known to carry zoonotic diseases that can be life threatening to humans. As they mature, lemurs can also become aggressive and severely bite and scratch their owners.
- To ‘tame’ primates as pets, babies are often taken from their mother when they are a few days old. They are very social animals that need to be reared by their mother and live among a large family group of primates of their own kind. They do very poorly in these conditions and are stressed by the isolated lifestyle in captivity, such as in a person's home.
- Their housing, diet, and social needs are very hard to meet in captivity and are financially expensive and time consuming. They are not domesticated and hard to train. They need social companionship and face many nutritional issues due to improper diet in captivity. Large outdoor facilities under optimal climatic conditions are the best environment for ring-tailed lemurs in captivity, and they should not be handled once adults.
- As with all exotic mammals, when keeping a pet, ensure there is access to a veterinarian that specializes in their care and consult them about proper habitat setup, diet, and care. Find an exotic mammal vet near you.However, very few pet veterinarians are familiar with primate veterinary care.
Basic information
Taxonomy:
Primates, Lemuridae
Lifespan:
~16 years
Weight:
5-6 lbs. (2-3 kg)
Size:
17in (43 cm) with a tail up to 2 ft (0.6m) long
Native range and habitat:
Arid open areas and forests of southern and south-west Madagascar
Diet:
Leaves, flowers, insects, fruit, herbs, and small vertebrates
Activity and behavior:
- Ring-tailed lemurs live in social groups of 3 to 25 individuals
- Diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day
- They are the most terrestrial of all lemurs, spending up to 50% of their day on the ground as opposed to in the trees
© WWF-Japan