 Like many species native to Madagascar, lemurs cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Because of the vast amount of endangered or threatened flora and fauna that are native only to Madagascar, the island is considered a high conservation priority, and much of the flora and fauna is endangered or threatened. For many species of lemurs, populations are markedly reduced, and due to habitat loss these populations are fragmented into small areas of preserved habitat.
Small, isolated lemur populations are at high risk to infectious diseases that could wipe out the entire small population. Accurate assessment and identification of these diseases is crucial for making management decisions.
Researchers collect data from various species in the lemur family, including blood cell counts and biochemical profiles.
A better understanding of how diseases affect these wild populations will assist in correcting problems that may exist in captive populations.
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