The black and white ruffed lemur is native to the island of Madagascar, off the east African coast, and though it has a larger range within the rainforests on the eastern side of the island than the red ruffed lemur, it has much smaller population numbers. The lemur is also arboreal, spending most of its time high up in the tree canopy.

The species is primarily diurnal, which means it is most active during daylight hours. The animal’s diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, nectar and plant matter and it also scent marks its territories and uses an elaborate system of alarm calls to alert other group members if predators move in close by.

The black and white ruffed lemur has a complex social structure within its groups. Its social hierarchy is female-dominated. It also differs from other Lemurs in that females have a shorter gestation period and produce larger litters, with young reaching maturity more quickly.

The more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, the black and white ruffed lemur is preyed upon by several other animals in the wild – including fossa and the ring-tailed mongoose – and though it has a larger range than the red ruffed lemurs, its numbers are smaller and more spread out. As a result, the species is considered to be Critically Endangered.

The ruffed lemur feeds on nectar by sticking its long nose deep into the flower. The lemur’s snout becomes coated with pollen, which is then transported to other flowers – making the animal an important pollinator. There are also three subspecies of black and white ruffed lemur.

Fota is home to two of the 16 species of lemur in the world today, the other species being the ring-tailed lemurs, which are free roaming.