Mongoose Lemur

"Something" suddenly landed in the small tree where I was standing, in the Transalta Rainforest buidling at the Calgary Zoo. It was a Mongoose Lemur. It's easy to imagine that you are actually in the Rainforest here, with Tropical birds free to roam and these Lemurs free to jump, climb, and bound. This one was about five feet away from me - could have reached out and touched it. Beautiful fur, and those eyes!

"The mongoose lemur is a medium-sized lemur, about the size of a small house cat.

The mongoose lemur has always been uncommon. Its natural range is restricted to northwest Madagascar. It has also been introduced to Comoros, where populations occur on the islands of Anjouan and Moheli.

Major reasons for the decline of the mongoose lemur include the destruction of its forest habitat due to logging and agriculture, hunting for food, and persecution due to its alleged raids on crops. The dry deciduous forests of northwestern Madagascar continue to be cleared to create pastureland and produce charcoal. This loss of habitat is the primary threat to the survival of the mongoose lemur, but it is also hunted for food throughout much of its range. In addition, it is occasionally trapped for the pet trade. In Comoros, the mongoose lemur faces similar threats."
From www.animalinfo.org.