Cathedral wall

The katta is a lemur and there are more than 100 lemur species in total, all of which live in Madagascar and the neighbouring Comoros Islands. The lemur is a primate and classified as a great ape. It is easily recognised by its long striped tail, which acts as a balance pole.

The katta is active during the day when most other lemurs are nocturnal. It lives in groups of up to 30 animals. In these groups, females dominate and win almost all fights. It is also the females that eat and drink first during periods when food and water are scarce. There is a clear hierarchy between both males and females. During the mating season, many of the males leave the group to seek out other females.

A kitten can drink milk from any female in the group. Females can also take care of orphaned kittens. 30-50 % of all kittens die before they reach the age of one.

• Distribution: Rocky shrublands in Madagascar.
• Population: Endangered due to habitat destruction
• Weight: 2.5-3.5 kilos
• Body length: 40-46 centimetres
• Neck length: 55-60 centimetres
• Mating season: April
• Sexual maturity: From 18 months of age. However, males do not usually mate until they are 3 years old
• Gestation: 120-153 days
• Number of cubs: Usually 1
• Food: The katta is not a carnivore, subsisting almost exclusively on plants, flowers, leaves and bark. However, it can sometimes also eat insects
• Zoo menu: Fruit and vegetables as well as monkey pellets and cat food
• Lifespan: Unknown in the wild. In captivity up to 14 years

The lemur facility is tingling and crawling 

In the new lemur facility, a biobed has been implemented that mimics the lemur's natural habitat and helps create a suitable humidity level. At the bottom, three different species of woodlice have been added, with each species working in different soil depths. This helps to ensure efficient soil cultivation and contributes to the functionality of the biobed. In addition, earthworms and a small animal called springtails have been added to keep fungal spores down. The goal of the biobed is that it should be able to maintain and look after itself, which also means that no more insects should be added, as they should naturally breed and maintain their population. In addition, one of the benefits of the biobed is that the keepers can skip the floor cleaning as the insects that live in the soil break down the faeces and food scraps that come from the lemurs.

Nature conservation through international co-operation

A violent goodbye 

When observing the cat walls at Aalborg Zoo, it is clear that the male is in the lowest position in the herd hierarchy. This is reflected in the fact that the male often stays on the periphery of the group and displays submissive behaviour towards the females. After a period of time, the pack of females may decide to replace the male. The reasons for this switch are not always clear, but it is believed to be primarily due to the desire for new genes for breeding purposes. The process of expelling a male from the herd can be dramatic and violent and result in the male being injured.