BREEDING AYE-AYES - AN AID TO PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY

In August 1992 an aye-aye Daubentonia madagascariensis (Primates) was bred in captivity for the first time. This species is the only living representative of a monotypic family and is endangered in its native M adagascar. A brief history of the captive breeding effort and a summar y of the conservation problems facing the fauna, flora, and people of Madagascar is given. The role that a captive breeding programme for ay e-ayes can fulfil as an aid to preserving biodiversity is discussed.