LifespanUp to 30 years
Quick facts
DietMainly fruits, young leaves and flowers
HabitatTropical dry forest, moist lowland and montane forest
RangeMadagascar
The brown lemurs
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Agile social creatures
The brown lemur moves through the forest canopy on all fours. Its tail is as long as or longer than its body and is used to maintain its balance when it performs aerial leaps.
Brown lemurs are social animals and this is seen even in their teeth! They have a dental ‘comb’, formed by modified teeth, which they use to groom one another, building relationships. They also communicate verbally — ‘crou’ is to sound the alarm while a high-pitched ‘cree’ is a territorial call.
Free-ranging at the Zoo
Their close social ties are the reason why they were selected to free-range. As they are fed at the same place every day, they learn to associate the area with food and to establish their territory there.
Aside from the Treetops Trail feeding, the brown lemurs can also be seen at the big bamboo clump by the Zoo entrance. You can view them up-close, without any of the barriers that usually separate visitors and animals. Do keep an eye out for those round-eyed faces!
Special experiences
Into The Wild
Daily Shaw Amphitheatre 12:00pm & 2:30pmSingapore Zoo
Good for Rainy Days
Explore how these animals have adapted to survive and thrive in their natural habitats despite challenges like habitat loss and wildlife trade.
"Into the Wild" not only entertains but also educates and inspires, fostering a deeper appreciation for our planet's biodiversity and the importance of conservation efforts.
Join us on this unforgettable journey into the heart of the wild.
Together, we protect wildlife
Threatened existence in the wild
Brown lemurs are hunted for food. Blowpipes, guns, bow-and-arrows, and even traps are used. Sometimes entire groups are captured.
Their habitat is increasingly destroyed by slash-and-burn practices, charcoal production, and illegal logging. Choose paper and wood products from sustainable sources.
The IUCN Status
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
DD
Data Deficient
Unknown risk of extinction
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
EN
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
EW
Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity
EX
Extinct
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity
