Aye-ayes are Madagascar's most distinctive primates, presenting unique welfare challenges in zoo settings due to their specialized ecology and nocturnal lifestyle.
Aye-aye welfare depends on providing environments that accommodate their nocturnal activity, complex foraging needs, and relatively solitary social preferences. Best-practice facilities use specialized nocturnal exhibit design with enriched climbing structures, tap-foraging opportunities, and food concealment activities. Social housing requires careful management as aye-ayes can be intolerant of conspecifics. This species also serves a vital conservation role through captive breeding programs.