Hand-raising a spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) at the Ueno Zoological Gardens
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2011 |
Authors: |
Atsushi Hirota, Tatsuko Hara, Takahisa Hosoda, Fumitaka Hashizaki |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
captive management, formula nutrition, hand-raising, tarsius tarsier, vulnerable species |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract On February 10, 2008, a newborn male spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) was found on the floor of the indoor exhibit room in the Small Mammal House of the Ueno Zoological Gardens. The dam showed no signs of providing maternal care and therefore we decided to hand-raise the infant. Its birth weight was 18.7 g. We placed the dam and infant in an incubator and gave 12.5–25% formula (for kittens), until the 145th day after birth. We limited the volume of formula intake to avoid excessive intake and to prevent diarrhea. For nutrition enrichment, we added a chicken liver homogenate to the formula 1–3 times per day. The infant was given a sunbath for 10 min on the 28th day. He showed no serious decline in health, except for diarrhea that occurred during the first few days after birth. He ate a small cricket for the first time on the 50th day and easily caught mealworms on his own on the 105th day. Gradual changes in feeding times, formula concentration, and the nutritionally enriched formula were essential for successfully hand-raising the tarsier. Zoo Biol 30:218–224, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.