Lemurs are among the world's most endangered mammals, with over 90% of species threatened with extinction. Captive populations serve important conservation roles, but meeting their complex social and environmental needs presents real welfare challenges.
Lemur welfare in captivity is shaped by social structure, sensory environment, and nutritional management. Ring-tailed lemurs deprived of female-dominant group dynamics show elevated aggression and stress. UV-B deficiency is a persistent captive welfare problem causing painful bone fractures and deformity. Enrichment programmes must reflect the diverse ecology of different lemur species — what works for ring-tails may be inappropriate for sifakas or mouse lemurs. Captive lemur populations contribute to conservation through breeding programmes and ambassador animal education, but welfare must be the foundation, not an afterthought.