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Ring-tailed lemurs are just as suited to life on the ground as up in the trees, and that makes them far more adaptable than most of Madagascar's lemurs. Several troops of ringtails managed to make a living in these highlands. Some of the luckier ones occupy a more sheltered valley where a few trees have managed to take root. Morning fog condensing on leaves is an important source of water. Although the mornings still have a chill to them, life here seems more relaxed, Pied crows need to be moved on, not least because there are some vulnerable arrivals in the troop.
Almost every female is carrying an infant, an indication that life is comparatively easy up here. With more protection from the elements and a little more food, this troop is particularly large and can devote plenty of time to their social lives. A rare event amongst ringtail lemurs and a direct result of a good food supply. But this valley troop still has to work hard to collect food in this broken landscape. There's a real bonanza at this time of year. While some gather canopy fruits, the mother of the twins stays lower and gathers fresh leaves.
The young are born during the fruing season when demands on the mothers are heaviest.
