Lemur Research Articles

Ex-musulmans and musulmans laïques in contemporary French literature and film

Although several public apostates from Islam are well known in France, most are not French. More attention is granted to French musulmans laïques: practicing Muslims who underline their support for a contemporary model of laïcité holding that religious practices should be restricted to the private sphere. Olivier Arnaubec’s novel 2023. Le mur (2015), Xavier Durringer’s film Ne m’abandonne pas (2016), and Zahwa Djennad’s novel Tabou. Confession d’un jeune de banlieue (2013) reflect this, each deploying musulman laïque protagonists to communicate divergent visions of French Islam, while mentioning the figure of the apostate at most in passing. This may be because the figure of the secular Muslim can easily be appropriated to support the creator of each work’s differing vision of the place of Islam in French society. Musulman laïque protagonists help further Arnaubec’s racist rejection of populations racialized as “Muslim”; the more insidious form of Islamophobia associated with the political mainstream seen in Durringer’s film; and Djennad’s portrayal of Islamic practice as already wholly French without needing further “assimilation.” This article argues that the figure of the ex-Muslim is harder to appropriate to any of these ends, a difficulty which helps to explain the discrepancy in public prominence between the musulman laïque and the apostate in contemporary France.

Prevalence, infection intensity and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta from European zoos and wild populations

Globally, Giardia duodenalis is probably the most common intestinal protozoan parasite infecting humans and it appears also to be common in some zoo-housed primates. Infected zoo animals present a risk for potential spill-over of zoonotic pathogens to co-residing animals, staff and visitors. Using quantitative PCR, this study compared Giardia spp. prevalence and infection intensity in wild and zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta. Infection intensity of zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=88.6%, median Ct value=31.1, IQR=27.1–34.5) was significantly higher (P>0.01) than in wild ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=20.0%, median Ct value=37.7, IQR=37.5–38.7), where little or no Giardia was found. Comparison of the enclosure designs showed both a higher prevalence and significantly higher intensity (P>0.005) of Giardia infections in zoos with walk-through enclosures (prevalence=89%, median Ct value=28.6, IQR=26.5–32.3) compared to traditional enclosures (prevalence=65%, median Ct value=35.2, IQR=33.3–37.8), but there was substantial variation within groups. The potentially zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage B was identified in samples from five zoos. These findings suggest that ring-tailed lemurs may be asymptomatic carriers of G. duodenalis and a higher parasitic load might occur in lemurs held in walk-through enclosures.

Behavioral Reactions of Naturalized Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) to Native Owl Vocalizations

During routine surveys of owl distributions on St. Catherines Island, we observed naturalized ring-tailed lemurs displaying antipredator responses to owl auditory cues. In the 32 y since the introduction of ring-tailed lemurs to the island, two successful depredation events by two different owl species have been documented. We investigated the behavioral response of ring-tailed lemurs to determine if they responded consistently to social calls from all three owl species present on St. Catherines Island despite size differences among the owl species that could affect the likelihood of them serving as predators on ring-tailed lemurs. We observed while ring-tailed lemurs responded to all the auditory owl calls, they exhibited more intense, longer and more consistent responses to the two larger owl species – the barred owl and great horned owl – relative to the small Eastern screech owl. These data suggest naturalized species are capable of learning threat-sensitive antipredator behaviors to novel predator communities.

Considering Ethnic Group Tensions: The Symptomatic Case of French Comedian Dieudonné

This article examines the 2014 case of French comedian Dieudonne and his purported incitement to hatred through his comedy act at the time, which hit national headlines and danced along the line of acceptable speech and making fun of the Holocaust. At the same time, Dieudonne’s comedy appealed to a faction of French society that felt relegated and ignored by the French elite, a sentiment that was furthered by a clash between one religious group that has legal protections in place to protect it from Holocaust denial, versus another group that does not have similar protections in place for Islamophobic acts. This case study demonstrates how Dieudonne tapped into these sensitive areas of cultural life by engaging the communicative genres of humour and satire to draw attention to and toy with making fun of the Holocaust, though his comedy act, Le Mur (The Wall), a silly song about the Holocaust, and an arm gesture called the ‘quenelle’. Using a textual thematic analysis of online newspaper articles collected at the time from Le Figaro and Le Monde, as well as transcripts from ten in-person, semi-structured interviews conducted in Paris with activists, journalists, politicians, a lawyer, and a comedian, what the findings point to is that while Dieudonne appealed to a disenfranchised audience as a ‘provocateur’, he also highlighted how key factions of French society are struggling with inclusivity and a lack of social cohesion in a political context where laicite, the separation of religious life and political life, is sacrosanct.

World's lemurs threatened

World's lemurs threatened

Lemurs have fruity- smelling wrists

Lemurs have fruity- smelling wrists

A sociological view on Sartre’s “Érostrate” and deviance

This article explores Jean‐Paul Sartre’s short story “Érostrate,” in Le mur (1939), through sociology—an area of inquiry he apparently neglected or so misjudged by the critique, at least until Critique de la raison dialectique (1960). However, his early fictions are infused with perceptive views of selfhood creation and role relationships that present intriguing avenues with interactionist sociology and staged socialization. Role models opted for by Sartre’s antihero, Paul Hilbert, stem from publicized faits‐divers (“news items”) and the dark perpetrator from Antiquity, Erostratus. The study goal is aimed at existential situations anticipated in Sartre’s interwar writings and later theorized by Erving Goffman and Anthony Giddens. It is directed toward the comprehension of deviant individuals who resort to violence for life resolution and public attention.

Effects of lemur tyrosine kinase-3 on cell proliferation and invasion in lung squamous carcinoma cell line SK-MES-1

Effects of lemur tyrosine kinase-3 on cell proliferation and invasion in lung squamous carcinoma cell line SK-MES-1

Looking inside lemurs’ mouths to find their ancient relatives

Looking inside lemurs’ mouths to find their ancient relatives

Rabies in primates: are aggressive pet lemurs a risk to humans?

Non-human primates harbor zoonotic pathogens including the rabies virus ( Rabies lyssavirus ). Though the chances of rabies transmission from primates is low, guidelines currently recommend a post-exposure prophylaxis for unvaccinated persons. In Madagascar, lemurs have been described as carriers of the rabies virus, but a discussion about the risk of rabies transmission to humans from lemurs, particularly in the context of in-country ownership of lemurs, has not been studied. We use qualitative and quantitative data collected from household surveys (n = 271 interviewees who had seen a pet lemur across 12 urban towns), web-based surveys (n = 229), and the literature (publications using data collected by the Institute Pasteur of Madagascar over the last century) to examine the context in which the rabies virus could be transmitted from lemurs to humans. Though only a few wild and pet lemurs in Madagascar have tested positive for rabies, post-exposure treatment is sometimes also sought out following aggressive incidents with lemurs. Many interviewees (22 ± 6%, mean ± 95% confidence interval CI) across 12 towns indicated that pet lemurs they had seen, had a history of aggression. Some lemur owners appear to be aware that their pets could transmit the rabies virus and seek veterinary care to prevent this. The public health burden of rabies is relatively low in Madagascar and despite some anecdotes in the literature, it appears that lemurs are rarely the source of rabies when humans become infected. However, this case study highlights the lack of data and publications regarding the public health implications of human-lemur contact in Madagascar. Resume Les primates non-humains hebergent des pathogenes zoonotiques incluant le virus de la rage ( Rabies lyssavirus ). Bien que les risques de transmission de la rage par les primates soient faibles, les lignes directrices recommandent actuellement une prophylaxie post-exposition pour les personnes non vaccinees. A Madagascar, les lemuriens ont ete decrits comme porteurs du virus de la rage, mais une discussion sur le risque de transmission de la rage a l'Homme par les lemuriens, en particulier dans le contexte de la propriete locale des lemuriens, n'a pas ete etudiee. Nous utilisons des donnees qualitatives et quantitatives collectees a partir d'enquetes aupres des foyers (n = 271 interviewes ayant vu un lemurien dans 12 villes), des enquetes en ligne (n = 229) et de la litterature (publications utilisant des donnees collectees par l'Institut Pasteur de Madagascar au cours du siecle dernier) pour examiner le contexte dans lequel le virus de la rage pourrait etre transmis par les lemuriens aux humains. Bien que seuls quelques lemuriens sauvages et animaux de compagnie a Madagascar aient ete testes positifs a la rage, un traitement post-exposition est parfois egalement recherche suite a des agressions par des lemuriens. De nombreuses personnes interrogees (22 ± 6%, moyenne ± Intervalle de confiance IC a 95%) dans 12 villes ont indique que les animaux de compagnie qu'ils avaient vus avaient des antecedents d'agression. Quelques proprietaires de lemuriens semblent etre conscients que leurs animaux de compagnie peuvent transmettre le virus de la rage et demander des soins veterinaires pour eviter cela. La rage constitue une charge relativement faible pour la sante publique a Madagascar et malgre quelques anecdotes dans la litterature, il semble que les lemuriens soient rarement la source de la rage lorsque les humains sont infectes. Cependant, cette etude de cas souligne le manque de donnees et de publications concernant les implications / consequences du contact entre humains et lemuriens sur la sante publique a Madagascar.

The composition of captive ruffed lemur (Varecia spp.) diets in UK zoological collections, with reference to the problems of obesity and iron storage disease

The formulation and provision of appropriate captive diets for zoo animals is important in ensuring the continued health of populations. Inappropriate diets can lead to a number of nutritional deficiencies and increase the risk of disease and obesity. Ruffed lemurs are the most intensely frugivorous of extant lemur species. Captive animals, however, are often fed a diet which may not accurately reflect the composition of the wild diet. As such, the species is prone to obesity and can suffer from nutrition-related diseases. Here we describe the historical diets of several captive populations of ruffed lemurs in the UK, describing differences in nutritional content with a particular focus on the problems of obesity and iron storage disease. Dietary data were collected from six zoological institutions. Comparative analyses were conducted to investigate differences in the amount metabolisable energy, carbohydrates, sugar and iron provisioned per individual, between institutions. The results showed that the composition of captive ruffed lemur diets, and the amount of food offered, differed between institutions. All dietary analytes showed significant variation, with metabolisable energy exceeding suggested maintenance energy requirements at all institutions. One population was found to be obese, and two institutions reported mortalities where excessive iron accumulation and iron storage disease was observed. These data represent an important addition to the literature as they describe historical inconsistencies in the diets of captive ruffed lemurs. Given the degree of variation in diet, morphology, physiology, and oro-rectal through-time amongst nonhuman primates, and the evidence of obesity and disease presented herein, the development of species-specific diets is long overdue. Zoos can use our data to inform the development of appropriate contemporary diets, thus improving captive ruffed lemur condition and wellbeing.

Gaudalges averianovi sp. nov. (Acariformes: Psoroptidae)—a new parasite of Malagasy lemurs

A new species Gaudalges averianovi sp. nov. (Acariformes: Psoroptidae: Makialginae) is described from Lepidolemur ruficaudatus Grandidier (Primates: Lepilemuridae) from Madagascar. A key to all known species of the genus Gaudalges Fain, 1963 is given. This is the first finding of mites of the genus Gaudalges on lemurs of the family Lepilemuridae.

Farewell to lemurs?

Farewell to lemurs?

Hand-rearing the critically endangered blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur flavifrons): milk formula, feeding and socialisation protocols

The blue-eyed black lemur ( Eulemur flavifrons ) is critically endangered in the wild and managed by ex-situ programmes in zoos. The breeding success in the European population is low and within the last five years, there have only been three births that survived. To try to increase the rate of infant survival, a systematic hand-rearing protocol was developed in 2013 and used on five infants from two different females that did not properly raise their infants. Milk formula was created with a mix of human newborn formula and kitten replacement milk. The lemur infants were fed ten times a day at the beginning, on a 24-hour round-the-clock basis. Solid food was offered as early as Day 7 and complete weaning was achieved without any medical issues around Day 107. The socialisation protocol consisted of maintaining permanent visual, olfactory and auditory contact with the parents from the day of the birth. First attempts to put the infants on their mother began as early as Day 2, but results varied, including successes with the parents, with conspecifics or lemurs from another Eulemur species. More work is needed to develop a feeding protocol which would also include the physiological variations in milk composition during the lactation period. Although many studies and reports have described hand rearing mammals, and more specifically lemurs, none of them describe a successful and complete protocol for five infants of the critically endangered blue-eyed black lemur.

GBS and the Impossibilist

GBS and the Impossibilist

Tiny lemur is best endowed primate

Tiny lemur is best endowed primate

Eccentricity in Order to Re-centre: La Maison Rouge

Abstract In the ten years of its existence, La Maison Rouge has been an influential venue in the Paris art world. Besides monographic shows, it has organized innovative exhibitions through three different pathways: internationalization, the inclusion of ‘art brut’ and other materials made by or representing psychiatric patients, and the presentation of private collections. These exhibitions were all curated carefully on the basis of thoughtful principles. Paradoxically, the institution’s anniversary exhibition Le mur seemed to undermine the very idea of curating by consigning the selection and arrangement of artworks to a computer. This article seeks to understand the paradox this curatorial methodology raises, and posits that eccentricity can be construed as a meaningful basis for constructing exhibitions.

KONTESTASI IDEOLOGI DALAM SASTRA PRANCIS MASA PERANG DUNIA KEDUA

This study aims to explore the constestation of French writers’ ideologies during the era of World War II through their works. The primary data sources were “Le Mur”by Sartre, “L’Etranger” by Albert Camus, and “L’Attente de Dieu” Simone Weil. On the one hand the writers play roles as ones telling the world through their fiction, but on the otherhand they have active roles in positioning their believed ideologies. The study employed the Critical Discourse Analysis method. The discourses emphasize that God is viewed as personal, social, historical experiences contested by Sartre, Camus, and Weil in their works. They discuss God using different perspectives. The findings show that God isphilosophically positioned at the levels of being existent and non-existent, present and absent, and active and passive. Sartre and Camus are on the same line when talking about God’s absence in human existence. Meanwhile, Simone Weil, who is very religious, views that God is concretely present in human life.

Art Before the Sublime

This essay is a critical examination of Jean-François Lyotard's little-known text on the American artist Edward Kienholz, Pacific Wall (Le mur du pacifique). It argues in favor of the experimental methodology that Lyotard developed in his encounter with Kienholz's installation Five Car Stud, suggesting that attention to this aspect of Lyotard's writings might allow us to avoid some of the impasses created by the emphasis upon the sublime aspect of aesthetic experience. Reading Pacific Wall in terms of the problems set out in Lyotard's Libidinal Economy, I contend that one can detect an ethics of thought and commentary at work in these early writings, one according to which the thinker must somehow find a way to imbue his text with a libidinal intensity equal to or greater than the work of art in question.

Tree-loving lemur digs hole in winter

Tree-loving lemur digs hole in winter