The lemur is a small primate native to Madagascar that has been a popular pet for decades. Yet, despite their popularity, lemurs do not make good pets at all. In fact, they are the wrong type of animal to have in your house because they can carry diseases and parasites, which are dangerous for humans. They also have specific dietary requirements and need plenty of space to live in captivity.
Here are some of the reasons why lemurs do not make good pets.
Disclaimer: PangoVet does not endorse the practice of keeping wild, exotic, and/or threatened species as pets. This article is for informative purposes only.
The 9 Reasons the Lemurs Are Not Good Pets
1. They Are Expensive
The cost of buying a lemur from reputable breeders is very high. Furthermore, the cost of taking care of these animals is also high. For instance, a lemur’s food and vet care can cost around $3,000 a year.
Lemurs are popular exotic animals that require extensive care and can be expensive in the long run. They aren’t the best choice if you’re looking for an affordable pet that will thrive with minimal care. Taking care of a lemur is expensive because they need a wide variety of fresh fruits, which you must buy or harvest yourself.
2. They Can Be Aggressive
The second reason lemurs do not make good pets is that they can be aggressive. They have a very high level of intelligence and are territorial animals, so they require their own space to avoid being too aggressive with humans.
Also, they are aggressive when they reach sexual maturity, and they can harm themselves or bite humans.
3. They Spread Diseases
Transmitting diseases between lemurs and humans is very easy. Lemur experts warn that these animals are vulnerable to various illnesses and parasites because their genetic makeup is similar to that of the primates in Africa. For example, you can transmit a virus or disease to your lemur because you are close to each other, especially when feeding them.
4. They Are Noisy
Lemurs, especially ringtails, are very noisy. They have strong vocals and make various calls for every situation. Lemur chatter can be heard up to 15 feet away, and some of their calls can be heard from half a mile away. Furthermore, they like to play on trees, making it difficult for people with small spaces to keep them.
5. Lemurs Make Smelly Pets
Another reason why lemurs do not make good pets is that they emit a powerful and unpleasant smell. Lemur scent glands produce an odor described as smelling like urine or vinegar, depending on the species.
These creatures love to “stink” to mark their territories or attract mates. Also, they have loose poop, and it’s hard to train them.
6. Keeping Lemurs Is Illegal In Most Countries
In most countries, including Madagascar, keeping a lemur as a pet is illegal unless you have an exotic animal permit, which can be expensive and difficult to get. Exporting them for global trade is also illegal. In many American states, owning lemurs is illegal. However, some states, such as Florida, Texas, Alabama, Nevada, and Nebraska, don’t have any restrictions on pet lemurs.
Therefore, you cannot risk breaking the law by keeping lemurs illegally. The purchase of lemurs can also promote the illegal trafficking of wild animals.
7. Lemurs Are Wild Animals, and They Are Hard to Tame
Lemurs are wild animals who want to live free and don’t do well in captivity since they still possess wild instincts. Unlike dogs or cats, lemurs struggle to adapt to home life because they are not domestic animals. Even if they make great zoo attractions, they’re not suited for people looking to keep pets at home or “have one of their own.”
Lemur experts say many people mistakenly think of lemurs as domesticated animals. But the truth is, they are exotic creatures who don’t have any interest in being around humans. Even if you had the money and time to invest in caring for a lemur, it would not be worth doing so because they will never get used to living with humans or being handled by them.
8. Pet Lemurs Are a Real Conservation Risk
Experts are debating the ethics of breeding and selling lemurs as pets. Importing them for this purpose can have devastating consequences on wild populations. It’s estimated that only about 5,000 ring-tail or true lemurs remain in the wild, but the number of lemurs kept as pets is higher, with the U.S. having about 15,000 of them.
This is a problem because every time someone buys one from an exotic pet store or breeder, they take away from the few left in their natural habitat. Lemurs are on the verge of extinction and may disappear in the next 20 years.
9. They Need Other Lemurs to be Happy
Lemurs are social creatures and love to live in social groups. Pet lemurs are snatched from their mothers when they are they are very young, leading to improper development that can cause behavioral and life-long psychological problems.
Lemurs need other lemurs to be happy. If you keep one pet lemur in your home, they can get stressed or cranky due to boredom and become aggressive.
Conclusion
Lemurs are adorable creatures, but they do not make good pets. They are expensive to buy and care for, and they become more aggressive and dangerous when tamed. Keeping pet lemurs is illegal in many countries, and they can spread diseases to humans, which can lead to death or severe health problems.
If you are looking for an animal that can be easily trained to do tricks or obey commands, a lemur may not be your best option because they don’t respond well to training methods like dogs and cats.
Looking for other unusual animals to consider as pets? Try our articles on:
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
Contents
- The 9 Reasons the Lemurs Are Not Good Pets
- 1. They Are Expensive
- 2. They Can Be Aggressive
- 3. They Spread Diseases
- 4. They Are Noisy
- 5. Lemurs Make Smelly Pets
- 6. Keeping Lemurs Is Illegal In Most Countries
- 7. Lemurs Are Wild Animals, and They Are Hard to Tame
- 8. Pet Lemurs Are a Real Conservation Risk
- 9. They Need Other Lemurs to be Happy
- Conclusion
