Two dozen ring-tailed lemurs could call Mosquito Island home in the coming weeks, a plan that has sparked concern in the territory.
In a March 4 interview, Sir Richard Branson said the introduction of the lemurs to his private island is part of a plan to protect the endangered animals, which are naturally found only in Madagascar. He said that after a quarantine period the black-and-white-tailed mammals will be kept at first in cages for about three or four months and then eventually released into the wild on Mosquito and possibly Necker Island.
“Where we’ve got them from is various zoos, and I think it will be lovely if there’s a number of islands around the world that could protect the lemurs. They’re very beautiful,” he said. “Basically it’s part of our programme to protect them. … Almost every week we have kids coming to Necker to see the giant tortoises, the flamingos, the various wildlife we have here. And I think that the kids of the BVI will get enormous pleasure from school visits to Mosquito and Necker to see them.”
According to a copy of the application to import the lemurs into the territory viewed by the Beacon, Sir Richard applied Oct. 28, 2010 to import 24 lemur catta from zoos in South Africa, Canada and Sweden. The original proposed date of arrival was Nov. 28, 2010.
The application form from the Veterinary Division states that permission to import the animals will only be given if the lemurs are “healthy and free of infection and contagious diseases, including the herpes virus group, tuberculosis and yellow fever.” The monkeys also have to have import permits, health certificates and laboratory reports, according to the application form.
The government’s chief veterinary officer, Dr. Michael Montrose, said that though the animals are coming from zoos, each one will be inspected to make sure it doesn’t pose a public health risk.
Nonetheless, the potential public health threat is a matter of serious concern to Lorie Rymer, who plans to run for office in the Ninth District, which includes Mosquito and Virgin Gorda. Mr. Rymer spoke out publicly in February, alleging that Natural Resources and Labour Minister Omar Hodge had granted permission for the lemurs to enter the territory even though he doesn’t have the authority to do so.
Mr. Rymer is currently circulating a petition opposed to the importation of the animals.
Dr. James “Skip” Lazell, a biologist with more than two decades of experience studying VI ecology at Guana Island, also questioned the wisdom of introducing a non-native species onto Mosquito Island.
Dr. Lazell, president of the US-based The Conservation Agency, said that the relocation plan is a “terrible idea” because the lemurs are totally unlike any animal that naturally occurs there. The lemurs are an agile, dexterous, high-energy omnivorous animal that could have a detrimental effect on “these simple island ecologies,” according to the scientist.
“They eat everything. They eat lizards. They eat fruits. They eats roots, insects, bird eggs, absolutely everything,” he said.
Dr. Lazell said that a rare species of lizard known as the dwarf gecko could take the biggest hit.
But Sir Richard said the rainforest environment on Mosquito is well suited for the lemur, and insisted the animal would do no harm.
“There’s nothing on Mosquito that will be damaged by the lemurs. There’s very little on Mosquito Island, and I think that if we can protect the lemur, … I think it would be a good thing to have done in one’s lifetime,” he said.
See the March 17, 2011 edition for full coverage.