Given the diversity of lemurs on the island of Madagascar, it's not surprising that some of them have more specialized diets. Bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur sp.) are among the specialist species, their diet consisting almost entirely of bamboo. This diet results in them ingesting a considerable amount of cyanide, although the reason for their immunity to the effects of cyanide is still unknown. There are several species, the most common being Hapalemur griseus, and compared to other lemurs this species appears to be at less risk of extinction. The IUCN entry for H. griseus notes that the status of the species had not been assessed in over a decade, though, and may have changed since 1996.
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Rejected by his parents at birth, Bilbo the bamboo lemur was raised by hand by zookeeper Veronica Lindberg. As a result, Bilbo thinks he is a human and refuses to leave Veronica's side. Clinging to her back, wrapped around her arm or perching on her head, the two are inseparable.
The recent article about Meller's duck Anas melleri inspired me to recycle my ver 1 article about another of Madagascar's endemic ducks, the Madagascar pochard Aythya innotata [male show