CLOSE ENCOUNTER
WITH THE LEMURS
Close encounters with the lemurs have an additional cost of €10.00 per person, which is entirely donated to research and conservation projects in collaboration with the Universities of Pisa and Turin, based in the Berenty Reserve and the Maromizaha Forest in Madagascar.
In 2024, the Parco Zoo Punta Verde in Lignano Sabbiadoro continues to offer close encounters with the lemurs, available from 12 June to 24 September on the following days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday starting at 10am and 11am (each activity lasts for around 30 minutes).
Entry is limited to a maximum of 8 people at a time, accompanied by an expert from the Park’s education department, who will explain their main biological characteristics and their habitat. A variety of food enrichments will be placed so that you can observe the different behaviours of the individual animals. Without disturbing the animals, participants will have the opportunity to come face to face with these magnificent Madagascan prosimians and to observe them from a decidedly privileged point of view, while also contributing to their conservation in the wild.
We advise wearing closed-toe shoes as it is necessary to disinfect shoes and hands before entering the enclosure.
- Minimum age: over 5 years old
- Clothing: we recommend closed-toe shoes
- Touching the animals is not permitted
- For logistical and safety reasons, it is not possible to enter with a wheelchair
- Bags and umbrellas are not permitted, and can be left in the locked area at the enclosure entrance.
The project is called “Volohasy” (meaning bamboo in Madagascan) and the area involved is the Maromizaha Forest, located in the central eastern part of Madagascar. The project was created with the aim of combating the loss of forest habitats, which is the leading cause of species extinction in Madagascar, especially for lemurs.
Over the last 150 years, the scientific community has observed a significant loss of forest ecosystems, caused by slash and burn agriculture (tavy) and illegal logging for the production of coal and construction materials.
The main aim of the project is to accompany broad reforestation work in the degraded areas of the Maromizaha Forest with a more specialised action of habitat restoration, focusing on plant species in the bamboo family, an essential resource for the eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus) and the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus).
All those involved in the activities will be selected from the local population living in villages close to the forest. The issue of gender will also be taken into account, fostering women’s access to employment.
