Lemurs case method: 50 questions

8 a.m. in September. An 8-year-old male ring-tailed lemur kept at a facility has doubled the number of times he empties his water bowl over the past month, and the bedding is always wet with urine. His appetite is if anything strong, and this overlaps with a period when visitors were giving him extra bananas. Yet the monthly weigh-in showed he had lost 300 g. His coat is dull and his eyes look slightly cloudy.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. He has an appetite, so there is no problem. Assume he is just drinking because of the heat and add more cool spots
2. He is losing weight, so increase fruit and high-calorie food to build him up and watch
3. Stop the fruit, record water intake and urination frequency, collect urine and see the vet the same day
4. Look it up online, decide it is diabetes, and mix a human blood-sugar supplement into his food

AnswerC. Stop the fruit, record water intake and urination frequency, collect urine and see the vet the same day

ExplanationThe triad of drinking and urinating a lot, eating but losing weight, and cloudy eyes is classic for diabetes in lemurs, and a fruit-heavy diet is the trigger. Under the manual's criteria, excessive drinking and urination means a same-day vet visit. First stop the fruit that is causing it, record water intake and urination frequency, and bring a urine sample to the vet to speed up diagnosis. Blaming the heat means the condition is only found after it has progressed to cataracts or ketoacidosis. Increasing fruit or calories because he is thin is the worst response, driving blood sugar even higher. Human supplements have unknown ingredients and doses; they delay diagnosis and may even be toxic.

IssuesVisitors and some staff gave lots of sweet fruit 'because he likes it', and feeding amounts were not shared among keepers. There was no record of water intake, and the wet bedding, a sign visible every day, was ignored for a month.

ImprovementPut in writing that fruit must be under 10% of total feed, and ban visitor feeding or limit it to designated vegetables. Record the remaining amount when changing water bowls and note changes in bedding wetness in the log. Make annual blood and urine tests routine for animals aged 8 and over.

1 p.m. in November. In the nocturnal mouse lemur house, a 2-year-old female is curled up cold in her nest box. The keeper knows this species enters torpor in the dry season, but her weight last week was 55 g and the tail fat she should have stored in autumn is thin. The room thermometer reads 16°C, and the heating had been turned down since last night. She barely responds when spoken to.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Judge this as hypothermia, not torpor; restore the room to 20°C or above, wrap her in a towel to warm gradually, and call the hospital
2. Judge this as natural torpor, darken the nest box so as not to wake her, and leave her untouched until spring
3. Warm her quickly by blowing hot air from a hair dryer directly on her body to wake her
4. Pour plenty of honey into her mouth for energy and wait until she moves

AnswerA. Judge this as hypothermia, not torpor; restore the room to 20°C or above, wrap her in a towel to warm gradually, and call the hospital

ExplanationTorpor in mouse lemurs is normal physiology for animals that have stored enough tail fat, but a light animal with a thin tail that is cold and unresponsive at 16°C is an emergency of hypothermia and hypoglycemia, not torpor. Restore the room to 20°C or above, wrap her in a towel to warm gradually, and call the hospital. Assuming 'natural torpor' and leaving her will kill her within hours. Hot air from a dryer rapidly warms only the body surface, dilating vessels and causing shock. Pouring liquid into the mouth of an unresponsive animal causes aspiration. Sugar should only be dabbed in small amounts at the corner of the mouth when the animal is conscious.

IssuesThere were no criteria for distinguishing torpor from hypothermia by body weight and tail fat, and the decision was nearly made on the knowledge that 'this species hibernates' alone. Turning down the heating while a light animal was present was also a temperature-management failure.

ImprovementMake it a rule that only animals meeting the weight standard with a fat tail may enter torpor, and keep all others at 20°C or above even in winter. Weigh weekly during torpor and wake and feed any animal that drops sharply. Check the weight chart before changing the heating setting and log any change.

A May afternoon. In an outdoor ring-tailed lemur exhibit, one 6-year-old female alone does not climb the perches and sits on the ground. Her belly sags and she sways side to side when walking. She weighs 3.6 kg, nearly 1 kg more than the others in the troop. Food is placed in a single spot, and she is always the first to eat it all. She is popular with visitors as 'cute' and has learned a trick to beg for fruit.

What is the most appropriate response to this situation?

1. She is a popular animal, so leave things as they are and keep doing the fruit trick for visitors
2. Withhold food for 2 days, water only, to slim her down fast
3. Pain may be the cause, so give a small dose of human painkiller and get her to climb
4. Judge this as obesity: reduce fruit, split feeding into several spots, record weight monthly, and ask the vet for a check-up

AnswerD. Judge this as obesity: reduce fruit, split feeding into several spots, record weight monthly, and ask the vet for a check-up

ExplanationBeing over 20% above standard weight, a sagging belly and avoiding climbing are classic obesity in lemurs, and the precursor of diabetes, joint disease and fractures from falls. Reduce fruit and return to a diet based on primate pellets and leafy greens, spread feeding spots to more than the number of animals to prevent monopolizing, and make foraging take time. Monthly weight records and a vet check-up rule out diabetes and joint problems. Leaving it because she is popular leads to diabetes within a few years. Fasting causes ketone build-up and hypoglycemia and disrupts troop hierarchy. Human painkillers have no established safety in prosimians and risk liver and kidney damage.

IssuesPlacing food in one spot created a structure where the dominant animal monopolized it. Visitor popularity and the fruit reward for 'tricks' broke down feeding control. Staff noticed the gap between her weight and the troop average but were slow to act.

ImprovementSpread feeding spots to more than the number of animals and prolong foraging with food-hiding feeders. Switch rewards for tricks and visitor interactions to low-sugar items such as leafy greens. Chart all animals' weights monthly and draw up a diet plan with the vet when any exceeds standard by 20%.

Feeding time in March. A 12-year-old male ring-tailed lemur chews pellets only on the right side of his mouth and drops hard vegetables. Up close there is a strong odor from his mouth, and drool has wetted the fur on his chest. Food debris is packed into the comb-like lower front teeth (toothcomb), and lately he has not joined in grooming with the others. The left side of his face also seems slightly swollen.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. Pry his mouth open by hand to look at the teeth, while he is still with the troop
2. Do not force the mouth open; keep him hydrated with soft vegetable puree and, because of the facial swelling, ask the vet for an oral exam the same day
3. Brush his teeth daily with human toothpaste and a toothbrush and watch
4. Treat the odor as the same as scent-gland smell and normal; do nothing in particular

AnswerB. Do not force the mouth open; keep him hydrated with soft vegetable puree and, because of the facial swelling, ask the vet for an oral exam the same day

ExplanationOne-sided chewing, dropping hard items, strong bad breath and drooling are signs of periodontal disease or a tooth-root abscess, and with facial swelling the abscess has very likely spread. The manual says an oral exam within a few days when the animal paws at the mouth and does not eat, and the same day if the face is swollen. Forcing the mouth open provokes a violent bite from pain and lacerations from the canines. Restraining him in front of the troop is dangerous because the others join in. Brushing a painful mouth is distressing, and an abscess will not heal with brushing; it needs treatment under sedation. Confusing bad breath with scent-gland odor is poor observation; left alone, he cannot use the toothcomb, cannot groom, and his standing in the troop worsens.

IssuesA long-running diet centered on soft fruit gave few chances to clean the teeth naturally with branches and hard vegetables. The annual oral exam was not done even for elderly animals, and the social sign of not joining grooming was missed.

ImprovementGive branches with leaves and hard vegetables daily to clean teeth naturally. For animals aged 10 and over, do an annual check-up under sedation with tartar removal and oral exam. Add participation in grooming and toothcomb cleanliness to the daily observation list and consult within a few days of any change.

July. An 8-month-old ring-tailed lemur infant abandoned by its mother is being raised by staff in an indoor hand-rearing room. Recently it missed a jump, fell from a shelf, and started dragging its right hind leg. Its back is slightly hunched and the jaw looks asymmetrical. After milk, its diet has been mainly fruit and boiled vegetables. The room gets only light through window glass, and no UVB lamp is installed.

What is the most important assessment to give when consulting the vet?

1. Say it is a simple sprain that will heal with cooling and 2 weeks of rest
2. Say infants fall a lot, so observation is fine
3. Say metabolic bone disease from lack of sunlight and calcium is suspected, and urgently request X-rays and a review of diet and UVB
4. Say it is growing pains and that you have started giving a human calcium tablet daily

AnswerC. Say metabolic bone disease from lack of sunlight and calcium is suspected, and urgently request X-rays and a review of diet and UVB

ExplanationLight through glass transmits almost no UVB, and a diet of fruit and boiled vegetables is deficient in calcium and vitamin D3. When these conditions combine in a growing infant, metabolic bone disease develops: the bones weaken, causing failed jumps, fractures, a hunched back and jaw deformity. X-rays check bone density and fractures; switch to primate pellets and urgently arrange outdoor sunbathing or a UVB lamp. Assuming a sprain or growing pains misses fractures and lets deformities set. Human calcium tablets have unknown dosing, are not absorbed without vitamin D3, and excess burdens the kidneys.

IssuesThe hand-rearing environment did not account for UVB and dietary balance, and staff mistakenly believed light through glass counted as sunbathing. They did not know a fruit-based weaning diet causes metabolic bone disease.

ImprovementInstall a UVB lamp for hand-reared animals too, or sunbathe them outdoors daily. After weaning, base the diet on primate pellets and keep fruit under 10%. During growth, weigh monthly and X-ray annually to check the bones, and consult immediately if jumps start failing.

A June morning. In a ring-tailed lemur troop, a 5-month-old infant has watery stool with blood in it. Its grip on the mother's back is weak, and it has been nursing less often since yesterday evening. The troop eats from a shared feeding platform, and a new male was introduced last month without quarantine. The other adults show no symptoms yet.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Bring a sealed stool sample and take mother and infant to the vet the same day; separate the feeding spot from the others and clean with gloves
2. Infant diarrhea is common, so give yogurt to settle the gut and watch for 2–3 days
3. Take the infant from the mother, switch to hand-rearing, and leave the troop as is
4. Dissolve human anti-diarrheal in the water and give it to the whole troop

AnswerA. Bring a sealed stool sample and take mother and infant to the vet the same day; separate the feeding spot from the others and clean with gloves

ExplanationBloody stool and reduced nursing in an infant is a high-urgency state where dehydration advances within half a day, and the manual lists bloody stool as same-day. Because a new animal joined without quarantine, suspect infectious diarrhea such as parasites or salmonella; bring a sealed stool sample for a fecal exam. Take mother and infant together to keep nursing going, separate the feeding spot from the others and clean with gloves to prevent spread in the troop and to humans. Dairy such as yogurt does not suit lemur digestion, and after days of watching the infant dies of dehydration. Separating it from the mother causes stress and lowers immunity. Human anti-diarrheals mask the cause and, in infectious diarrhea, keep pathogens in the body and make things worse.

IssuesA new animal was introduced to the troop without 30+ days of quarantine, bringing in pathogens. A shared feeding platform used by all animals made spread easy. Staff noticed reduced nursing the day before but did not act until the next morning.

ImprovementAlways isolate new animals for 30+ days and introduce them only after two negative fecal exams. Spread feeding platforms and wash them daily. In troops with infants, record nursing frequency and clinging daily, and set up a system to contact the vet the same day if anything is abnormal.

An October evening. In a ring-tailed lemur troop, young males are chasing each other fiercely, and a subordinate 3-year-old male is cornered, bleeding from his arm. The troop's females have joined in threatening him. The arm wound is a deep laceration from canines and blood is dripping. The other staff have gone home; only the keeper remains.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Go into the troop, brush the pursuers away by hand, and carry the bleeding animal out
2. This is a natural rank dispute, so do not intervene; check the wound the next morning
3. Apply human antiseptic and an adhesive bandage to the wound and return him to the troop
4. Use the doors to isolate the chased animal in a separate room, and once he is calm press to stop the bleeding and arrange a vet visit the same day

AnswerD. Use the doors to isolate the chased animal in a separate room, and once he is calm press to stop the bleeding and arrange a vet visit the same day

ExplanationFighting among ring-tailed lemurs intensifies in the autumn–winter breeding season, and canine lacerations are deep and abscess easily. First use the doors to guide the chased animal into a separate room and isolate him, then once the excitement subsides press with clean gauze to stop the bleeding and have the vet treat him the same day. Entering an agitated troop alone leads to a serious incident of being bitten by several animals, females included. Leaving him until morning risks death from bleeding and renewed attacks. Human antiseptic damages tissue, bandages get peeled off and eaten, and returning him with the wound closed invites abscesses and further attacks.

IssuesAlthough fighting increases in the breeding season, hiding places, a refuge room and multiple staffing were not in place. Signs of the subordinate male being cornered were missed during the day and only found by a lone keeper in the evening.

ImprovementIn breeding season, increase hiding places and feeding spots to more than the number of animals and always keep a separate room free for a chased animal to flee into. Staff two people in the evenings when fighting increases and train the door-operation isolation procedure. Keep gauze for wound care and a carrier in the house at all times.

A February morning. In the indoor house, a 15-year-old elderly female ring-tailed lemur missed a jump from a 3 m shelf and fell to the floor. She got up but holds her left hind leg completely off the ground; the ankle is swollen and bent at an unnatural angle. Troop members come over and sniff her. She cries in pain and threatens anyone who tries to touch her.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Straighten the leg, splint it with chopsticks and bandage, then go to the hospital
2. Guide her into a dark box so she cannot move, separate her from the others, do not splint, and see the vet the same day
3. She can walk, so it is not a fracture; rest her for 2–3 days and see if the swelling goes down
4. Mix human painkiller into her food and wait for next week's routine check-up

AnswerB. Guide her into a dark box so she cannot move, separate her from the others, do not splint, and see the vet the same day

ExplanationHolding the leg up with swelling and an unnatural angle is classic for a fracture or dislocation, and elderly animals have brittle bones and often break them in falls. As the manual says, guide her into a dark box without moving her, do not splint, and see the vet the same day. An amateur splint shifts the bone ends, damaging nerves and vessels, and the pain provokes a violent bite. Being able to walk does not rule out a fracture, and after days of neglect the bone sets deformed. Human painkillers have unknown safety in prosimians and mask pain so she uses the limb and worsens it. She is separated from the others because the troop may attack a weakened animal.

IssuesDespite elderly and obese animals in the troop, perch spacing remained at young animals' jumping range, with no low routes or padding at landing points. The layout had not been changed in anticipation of elderly animals' declining mobility.

ImprovementAdd low shelves and sloped walkways for elderly animals, and put grass or padding below high points. Replace the surface of slippery shelves. Twice a year, observe each animal's jumping ability and revise the layout if any animal's failures increase. Keep a dark transport box at the ready.

After cleaning in April, the keeper closed the feeding-hatch door and caught the long tail of a 4-year-old female ring-tailed lemur who was behind it. She screamed and fled; the middle of her tail is kinked, the skin is torn and bleeding. She is trying to climb the shelf, dragging her tail.

What is the most appropriate action for the keeper?

1. Straighten the kinked tail by hand, tape it in place and watch
2. The tail is just decoration, so leave it and let it heal naturally
3. Without grabbing the tail, guide her into a dark box, press the bleeding, leave the kink as is and see the vet the same day
4. Sprinkle plenty of styptic powder on the bleeding and return her to the troop

AnswerC. Without grabbing the tail, guide her into a dark box, press the bleeding, leave the kink as is and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA ring-tailed lemur's tail is longer than its body and easily caught in doors and mesh. A kink with a laceration suggests a fractured tail vertebra; if blood flow is cut off, the tail dies and must be amputated, so a same-day vet visit is required. Catching her by the tail causes further damage, so guide her into a dark box, press the bleeding with clean gauze, and leave the kink for the vet rather than straightening it yourself. Straightening by hand shifts bone fragments and damages vessels, and tape cuts off blood flow and hastens necrosis. The tail is a vital organ for balance and troop signaling; left alone, necrosis and infection advance. Styptic powder contaminates the wound, and back in the troop others lick or bite it.

IssuesThere was no habit of checking where the animal, especially its long tail, was when opening or closing doors. Complacency after cleaning and continued use of a feeding hatch that easily traps tails caused the accident.

ImprovementMake it a rule to call out and confirm the position of the animal and its tail before closing doors and feeding hatches. Fit padding to door gaps and switch to slow-closing hardware. Ban catching by the tail and train all staff in guiding animals into a dark box.

9 a.m. in August. A new staff member opened the outer door of the outdoor enclosure's double-door airlock while the inner door was still open, and a 7-year-old female ring-tailed lemur bolted out. She ran along the path, climbed a nearby tree, and is calling toward the troop. Visitors are beginning to gather and point their smartphones at her. The keeper is on the spot but has neither a carrier nor her favorite leafy greens to hand.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Do not chase; move visitors away, contact the office for backup and equipment, and lure her with the troop's calls and favorite food
2. She will go farther if she runs, so climb the tree at full speed and grab her
3. Call out loudly with the visitors and surround the tree to drive her in
4. Contacting the municipal office or police would make a big fuss, so capture her quietly within the grounds and do not report it

AnswerA. Do not chase; move visitors away, contact the office for backup and equipment, and lure her with the troop's calls and favorite food

ExplanationLemurs are powerful jumpers; chasing drives them off the grounds, making recovery difficult, and can lead to visitors being bitten. The basics are not to chase, to move visitors away, to contact the office to assemble staff, a carrier and favorite food, and to lure her with food in the direction the troop's calls come from. Being strongly social, she tends to return toward her troop. Climbing the tree to grab her risks a fall or a panic bite. Shouting and surrounding her makes her leap farther in fear or jump at visitors. Escape of a CITES Appendix I animal is a serious incident; notifying the municipal office and police and recording it is mandatory, and hiding it becomes a matter of trust and legal liability.

IssuesThe double-door procedure was not drilled into the new staff member, and the danger of opening the outer door with the inner open was not recognized. Communication channels, roles and equipment storage for escapes were not defined, so the keeper responded empty-handed.

ImprovementPost 'close and lock the inner door before opening the outer' on the airlock, and have new staff operate it with a senior for their first month. Create an escape-response manual, stock a carrier, favorite food and a net in each house, and post a contact list. Run an escape drill with all staff once a year.

A December evening. The nocturnal mouse lemur house is kept dim for exhibition. A staff member entering to clean did not notice a 3-year-old male that had come down to a dark spot on the floor and stepped on him. After a shrill scream, he lies on the floor, breathing with his belly and not moving. In his tiny 60 g body, a little blood is visible at the mouth.

What is the most appropriate first action for the staff member?

1. Stroke him repeatedly by hand to comfort him and avoid shock, and wait for him to get up
2. Gently move him to a small dark box lined with a towel, keep him warm, and transport now while phoning the hospital
3. He is too small for a hospital to examine, so return him to the nest box and watch until morning
4. Squirt water into his mouth with a dropper to wash off the blood and give him milk

AnswerB. Gently move him to a small dark box lined with a towel, keep him warm, and transport now while phoning the hospital

ExplanationWhen a person steps on a 60 g animal, internal injuries, rib fractures and pneumothorax are highly likely, and blood from the mouth indicates lung or organ damage. This meets the manual's 'go now' criterion: gently move him to a dark box lined with a towel, keep him warm, and transport while phoning the hospital. Stroking worsens internal bleeding and deepens shock. Waiting until morning means death within hours. Pouring liquid into the mouth of an animal with impaired consciousness causes aspiration and worsens breathing. During transport, keep it dark and quiet and do not jolt him.

IssuesWhen entering a nocturnal species' house, there was no habit of checking underfoot on the assumption that animals could be in dark spots on the floor. Procedures and lighting for cleaning in a dim exhibit were inadequate.

ImprovementBefore entering, light the floor with a red lamp and confirm the position of every animal before stepping in. Clean at times when the animals are in their nest boxes, and post a 'check underfoot' sign at the entrance. Keep a small-species transport box, towel and hand warmer in the house and post the hospital's phone number.

Noon in May. A visitor dropped part of an avocado sandwich from their lunch near the enclosure, and a 5-year-old male ring-tailed lemur reached through the mesh, picked it up and ate it. 30 minutes later he is restless, breathing fast, and repeatedly retching. The amount eaten is unclear, but pieces of avocado skin and flesh remain.

What is the most appropriate action for the keeper?

1. The amount eaten was small, so assume no problem, give extra water and watch
2. Give salt water to force vomiting, then return him to the troop
3. It is a kind of fruit so it cannot be poisonous; just make a note
4. Bag the remaining avocado, report the estimated amount and time eaten, and see the vet now

AnswerD. Bag the remaining avocado, report the estimated amount and time eaten, and see the vet now

ExplanationPersin in avocado causes heart-muscle damage and breathing difficulty in many animals, and the manual lists it among foods never to give. Fast breathing and restlessness 30 minutes after eating may be the onset of poisoning, and cardiac effects progress rapidly, so see the vet now. The remaining item, estimated amount and time are essential for diagnosis, so bring them. Inducing vomiting with salt water risks salt poisoning and aspiration and is contraindicated in prosimians. 'It's fruit, so it's fine' is wrong; left alone once symptoms appear, it can be fatal. Water does not dilute the toxin, and giving it to an animal struggling to breathe causes aspiration.

IssuesThe enclosure design let animals come within arm's reach of the mesh and pick up dropped items from visitors. Warnings to visitors not to bring in or drop food were inadequate.

ImprovementInstall a barrier in front of the enclosure to keep 1 m or more between visitors and the mesh. Post a no-food sign and a list of foods harmful to monkeys at the entrance. Check around the enclosure for dropped items during cleaning, and post the poisoning hospital contact and procedure in the house.

During feeding in March, a staff member dropped the rubber band that had bundled the vegetables, and a 2-year-old female ring-tailed lemur picked it up, put it in her mouth and fled to a shelf. A few minutes later she made movements as if probing her mouth and something like a belch, but the band is nowhere to be found. She has eaten normally since, but the staff member is not sure whether she swallowed it.

What is the most appropriate response for the staff member?

1. She is eating normally, so she did not swallow it; do nothing
2. Give olive oil to make her vomit and roll her on the floor
3. Assume she swallowed it, contact the vet, record appetite, stool and vomiting for several days to see if the band passes, and see the vet the same day if she vomits or stops eating
4. The band must be in her stomach, so mix human laxative into her food to pass it

AnswerC. Assume she swallowed it, contact the vet, record appetite, stool and vomiting for several days to see if the band passes, and see the vet the same day if she vomits or stops eating

ExplanationLemurs are dexterous and put anything in their mouths; rubber bands and plastic cause intestinal obstruction. When it is unclear whether an item was swallowed, assume it was, contact the vet, and record appetite, stool and vomiting for several days to check whether it passes. If signs of obstruction appear, such as vomiting, loss of appetite or no stool, see the vet the same day and let them decide on X-rays or endoscopy. 'She's eating so she's fine' means discovery only after the gut is blocked. Oil or rolling does not expel the object and risks aspiration. Human laxatives force gut motility, and may injure a blocked intestine and cause perforation.

IssuesSmall foreign objects such as rubber bands were brought into feeding work, and there was no procedure to respond immediately when one was dropped. Items brought in were not managed with this species' habit of putting anything in its dexterous hands into the mouth in mind.

ImprovementKeep items brought into the house to the minimum, and remove rubber bands, screws and plastic at the entrance. Count brought-in items after feeding. Prepare a record sheet for ingested foreign objects (date/time, item, course) and hand over stool checks among all keepers.

2 p.m. in August, 35°C. In an outdoor ring-tailed lemur exhibit, a 10-year-old female lies limp on a rock instead of going into the shade, breathing fast with her mouth open and drooling. She staggers when she stands. The misting system is broken, and the shade is occupied by the troop's dominant animals. The water bowl is nearly empty.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Guide her into the cool indoor house, wet her body with lukewarm water and cool her with a fan, phone the hospital and see the vet now
2. Submerge her whole body in a bucket of ice water to drop her temperature at once
3. It is just the heat, so wait for the shade to free up and see how she is when it cools in the evening
4. Pour sports drink into her mouth to make her drink a lot

AnswerA. Guide her into the cool indoor house, wet her body with lukewarm water and cool her with a fan, phone the hospital and see the vet now

ExplanationAlthough lemurs are from Madagascar, they are vulnerable to heat and humidity above 30°C, and open-mouth fast breathing, drooling and staggering are classic heatstroke, a 'go now' criterion in the manual. Move her into the cool indoor house, wet her with lukewarm water and cool her gradually with a fan while phoning the hospital. Ice water suddenly constricts peripheral vessels so the core does not cool, and causes shock. Waiting until evening leads to multiple organ failure. Pouring liquid into an animal with impaired consciousness causes aspiration, and the sugar in sports drinks is unsuitable for a species at high risk of diabetes.

IssuesThe broken misting system was left unrepaired, and the structure let dominant animals monopolize the shade, leaving subordinates with no refuge. Water-bowl checks were inadequate and patrol frequency on a scorching day was unchanged.

ImprovementSpread shade and water spots to more than the number of animals so dominant ones cannot monopolize them. Inspect misters and fans before summer and keep spares. On days above 30°C, patrol hourly to check every animal's breathing and location, and set rules for moving them indoors.

2 a.m. in January. Heavy snow has caused a local power outage and the indoor house's heating has stopped. By the time the night-duty staff member notices, the room has dropped to 12°C and the ring-tailed lemur troop is huddled shivering on a shelf. In a separate room, the mouse lemurs include two light young animals that are moving sluggishly in their nest box. There is no estimate of when power will return.

What is the most appropriate first action for the night-duty staff member?

1. Ring-tails tolerate cold, so leave the troop and wait until morning to check whether power is back
2. Give top priority to the small, light mouse lemurs with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and blankets, add blankets and nest boxes for the ring-tails, record the room temperature and contact the supervisor and vet
3. Bring a kerosene heater inside the enclosure and warm them at close range
4. Take all animals home and keep them in a warm room

AnswerB. Give top priority to the small, light mouse lemurs with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and blankets, add blankets and nest boxes for the ring-tails, record the room temperature and contact the supervisor and vet

ExplanationIn an outage, warm the light small species that lose heat fastest first. Mouse lemurs weigh tens of grams, and at 12°C hypothermia and hypoglycemia advance rapidly, so warm them with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and blankets. Ring-tails are also at risk below 10°C; add nest boxes and blankets so they can huddle, record the room temperature and contact backup and the vet. The belief that ring-tails tolerate cold is mistaken; left alone, infants and elderly animals become hypothermic. A kerosene heater inside the enclosure risks burns, carbon monoxide poisoning and fire. Taking CITES Appendix I animals off the grounds without authorization is improper legally and administratively, and the move itself is highly stressful.

IssuesNo emergency power or alternative heating had been prepared, and the night-duty staff member had not been given criteria for prioritizing the lightest animals. The monitoring system was slow to detect the temperature drop.

ImprovementStock disposable hand warmers, blankets and polystyrene boxes in each house and post outage warming procedures and priorities. Install a temperature alarm that notifies night duty when the room drops below the setting. Before winter, review introducing emergency power or non-electric heating.

A February morning. A ring-tailed lemur keeper has blisters on her lip, which she says is a recurrence of her cold sores. She has no fever and feels fine, so she intends to enter the house as usual, hand-feed, and bring her face close to the tame animals to talk to them. She will wear gloves but wants to take off the mask because it is hot.

What is the most appropriate decision for the supervisor?

1. She has no fever and feels fine, so let her work as usual and just enforce handwashing
2. Gloves are enough, so allow her to work without a mask
3. Explain that it is animals that pass diseases to people, so human herpes is nothing to worry about
4. Ban direct contact with the animals during the outbreak and have another staff member do the feeding. Enforce mask and gloves after she returns too

AnswerD. Ban direct contact with the animals during the outbreak and have another staff member do the feeding. Enforce mask and gloves after she returns too

ExplanationHuman herpes simplex virus is known to cause severe, often fatal encephalitis in monkeys, including prosimians. During a cold-sore outbreak, saliva and blisters carry large amounts of virus, and bringing the face close or hand-feeding passes it to the animals. The manual explicitly says no contact during an outbreak, mask and gloves, and never feed mouth-to-mouth. Handwashing and gloves alone do not stop droplets or facial contact. 'Human diseases don't affect animals' is wrong; along with measles, tuberculosis and influenza passing from humans to monkeys, this is the most important hygiene rule in facility housing.

IssuesStaff did not sufficiently understand the risk of reverse infection from humans to monkeys, and acted on the single criterion 'if I feel fine I can work'. There was no system for substitute staff or reporting when unwell.

ImprovementPut in writing that staff with cold sores, colds, fever or rash do not enter the primate house, and make a daily morning health report routine. Always have a substitute assigned. Train all staff annually on infections that pass from humans to monkeys, and make masks and gloves the standard at all times.

July. Three of the eight ring-tailed lemurs in the troop have soft stool, and one has bloody stool; the vet suspects salmonella and tests are pending. The keeper also cleans the mouse lemur house in the same boots and with the same tools, and feeding bowls are washed together in a shared sink. One staff member has complained of abdominal pain since last night.

What is the most appropriate hygiene response?

1. Clean as usual until the test results are in, then consider measures based on the results
2. Isolating the animals with diarrhea is enough, so continue sharing tools and boots
3. Isolate symptomatic animals, assign separate boots, tools and washing areas to each house, handle feces with gloves, and take the staff member with abdominal pain off duty and send them to a doctor
4. Mix human antibiotics into the whole troop's food as a precaution

AnswerC. Isolate symptomatic animals, assign separate boots, tools and washing areas to each house, handle feces with gloves, and take the staff member with abdominal pain off duty and send them to a doctor

ExplanationSalmonella is a zoonosis spread via feces between animals and to humans, and the manual says to separate and disinfect tools per group and handle diarrhea with gloves. Isolate symptomatic animals, assign separate boots and tools to each house, and do not share washing areas. The staff member with abdominal pain may be infected, so take them off duty and send them to a doctor. Continuing normal work while awaiting results spreads it to other houses. Isolating animals alone does not stop feces carried on boots and tools. Self-prescribed antibiotics breed resistant bacteria, have unknown dosing, and interfere with diagnosis.

IssuesTools, boots and washing areas were not separated by house, so staff carried pathogens. There was no view of a staff member's illness as part of the outbreak, and they were allowed to keep working.

ImprovementPlace dedicated boots, tools and disinfectant baths in each house, color-coded to prevent mixing. Wash feeding bowls per house, and during diarrhea outbreaks wash the healthy troop's first. Make a rule that staff report diarrhea or abdominal pain and are taken off duty, and run fecal exams twice a year on both the troop and staff.

An April afternoon. In the ring-tailed lemur house, a staff member was handing out vegetables when a 6-year-old male bit down on her finger; his canines are sunk in and he will not let go. In pain, she reflexively tries to pull her hand away, and the animals around are getting excited and gathering. The other staff member is outside the house.

What is the most appropriate action for the bitten staff member?

1. Yank the hand free with all her strength and shout to drive him off
2. Stop moving, lower her body and look away, have the staff member outside put a cloth or board in front of his face, and once he lets go leave quietly
3. Hit his head with her free hand to make him let go
4. Stay bitten and wait for the others to calm down, enduring without moving for 5 minutes or more until he lets go

AnswerB. Stop moving, lower her body and look away, have the staff member outside put a cloth or board in front of his face, and once he lets go leave quietly

ExplanationPulling a bitten hand away lets the canines widen the laceration, and shouting or hitting excites the animal further and makes him keep biting. As the manual's procedure says, stop moving, lower the body, look away, and slide a cloth or board in front of his face to shift the bite target. Once he lets go, back away quietly, close the door, and leave before the others join in. Among ring-tails in a group, excitement spreads through the troop and the longer you stay the greater the danger, so 'endure until he lets go' is inappropriate. After leaving, wash under running water for 5 minutes, disinfect, and always see a doctor the same day, saying it was a monkey bite and whether you have cold sores.

IssuesHand-feeding within the troop was habitual, and the bite risk and release procedure were not shared among staff. There were no tools such as a cloth or board in the house, and even with two staff, the one outside was not positioned to assist immediately.

ImprovementStop hand-feeding as a rule and switch to feeders or feeding hatches. Keep a thick cloth and board in the house, and with two staff always have one stand near the door. Once a year, have all staff review the bite-release drill and the washing, medical visit and reporting procedure after a bite.

A June morning. A 3-year-old female ring-tailed lemur caught her arm on a frayed piece of mesh and sustained a laceration; blood keeps dripping from the inside of her arm. She was guided into a dark box and calmed, but the gauze keeps soaking through, and while lifting it every 5 minutes to check, 10 minutes have passed. Her fur is matted with blood and she is becoming limp.

At this stage, what is the most appropriate bleeding control and transport response?

1. Layer fresh gauze on top, press for 5 minutes or more without lifting, lightly squeeze the arm nearer the shoulder, and transport now while maintaining pressure
2. Tie a cord tightly above the wound to stop the blood completely, confirm it has stopped, then transport
3. Sprinkle plenty of styptic powder, wait for it to dry, and return her to the troop once it has set
4. Change the gauze frequently to record blood loss accurately, and see the vet if it has not stopped after 30 minutes

AnswerA. Layer fresh gauze on top, press for 5 minutes or more without lifting, lightly squeeze the arm nearer the shoulder, and transport now while maintaining pressure

ExplanationThe basis of pressure bleeding control is to keep pressing for 5 minutes or more without lifting; lifting frequently removes the clot and restarts bleeding. Ten minutes have already passed and she is limp, a sign of advancing blood loss, so as the manual says, transport now while maintaining pressure. Lightly squeezing the limb nearer the body to reduce flow is useful, but a tight cord tourniquet causes tissue necrosis and is dangerous for an amateur to apply for long. Styptic powder does not work on deep lacerations and contaminates the wound, and back in the troop the wound gets bitten. Prioritizing records and delaying transport leads to hemorrhagic shock.

IssuesThe environmental defect of frayed mesh was missed in inspections. The basics of pressure control (5+ minutes without lifting) had not sunk in, and repeated lifting to check prolonged the bleeding.

ImprovementOn the morning patrol, run fingers over the mesh to check for frays, protrusions and gaps, and repair them immediately. Post the bleeding-control procedure in the house and stock gauze, bandages and a transport box. Set the rule that if 5 minutes of pressure does not stop bleeding, move to transport, and drill it until it is automatic.

7 a.m. in September. The staff member opening the house finds an 11-year-old male ring-tailed lemur lying motionless on the floor. He was eating normally at closing last night. His body is warm, but neither his ears nor eyes move when called. The other animals are calling around him. The staff member is alone, and the vet arrives in an hour.

What is the most appropriate first action for the staff member?

1. Judge him dead, separate him from the troop, put him in a bag and wait for the vet
2. Immediately start pressing hard on the chest for cardiac massage and give mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing
3. Check breathing by chest movement, heartbeat with a hand on the left side of the chest, and pupil asymmetry; quietly separate him from the troop and phone the vet and the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital for instructions
4. Leave him in place so troop members can say goodbye, and take photos for the record

AnswerC. Check breathing by chest movement, heartbeat with a hand on the left side of the chest, and pupil asymmetry; quietly separate him from the troop and phone the vet and the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital for instructions

ExplanationA warm but unresponsive animal may have impaired consciousness, hypoglycemia, poisoning, or be just past cardiac arrest, among other possibilities; first check breathing (chest movement), heartbeat (left side of the chest; ring-tails 100–200 per minute) and pupil asymmetry. As the manual says, even when cardiac arrest is suspected, the basic step is to phone the hospital first for instructions, and to quietly separate him from the troop and prepare for transport. Declaring death without checking and bagging him takes away the chance of resuscitation. Chest compressions without checking injure an animal that has a heartbeat, and mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing is banned because of the zoonotic infection risk. Losing time on photos or letting the troop say goodbye defeats the purpose.

IssuesThe procedure and contacts for finding a collapsed animal at opening had not sunk in with keepers, and the system left judgment to a lone staff member in the morning. Warning signs may also have been missed in the previous evening's closing observation.

ImprovementPost how to check consciousness, breathing and heartbeat and the normal values in the house, and practice on a model once a year. Post a list of emergency (after-hours) animal hospitals and the contact order for times when the vet is absent. At closing, record every animal's food intake, movement and stool, and hand over any abnormality to night duty.

November. Both eyes of a 17-year-old elderly female ring-tailed lemur have turned cloudy white, and she has started hitting the wall when jumping to shelves. She has been drinking a lot for some time, and has lost 400 g in six months. Her wounds heal slowly; a small bite wound from last month is still moist. Her rank in the troop has fallen, and she is driven away when she approaches the feeding platform.

What is the most appropriate response for this animal?

1. It is age-related cataracts, so do not treat and let nature take its course in the troop
2. She cannot see, so remove her from the troop entirely and keep her alone in a small cage
3. Buy eye drops at a human pharmacy to help her sight, and just lower the shelves
4. Suspect diabetic cataracts; ask the vet for blood and urine tests and wound treatment, separate her feeding spot and build low routes

AnswerD. Suspect diabetic cataracts; ask the vet for blood and urine tests and wound treatment, separate her feeding spot and build low routes

ExplanationThe combination of cataracts, excessive drinking, weight loss and slow-healing wounds strongly indicates the complications of diabetes, which is common in lemurs. Do not assume it is just aging; diagnose with blood and urine tests, and have the vet treat the slow-healing wound since it is a breeding ground for infection. For an animal whose rank has fallen with vision loss, separate the feeding spot to secure food and build low routes to prevent falls. Removing her from the troop entirely puts heavy stress on a strongly social ring-tail and further lowers immunity. Human eye drops do not address the cause, and if the diabetes continues the wound leads to sepsis. Choosing not to treat means leaving her to the suffering of not eating and festering wounds.

IssuesThe early diabetes signs of excessive drinking and weight loss were dismissed as 'aging' and no tests were done for six months. Staff failed to connect her inability to eat due to lost rank with her poor wound healing.

ImprovementMake annual blood and urine tests routine for animals aged 10 and over, and when drinking increases or weight falls, see the vet rather than assuming aging. Provide low shelves and a separate feeding spot for elderly animals and check their food intake individually. Set a standard that wounds not healed within a week are shown to the vet.

An October afternoon. A 4-year-old male ring-tailed lemur climbing coarse wire mesh caught his finger, and the nail of his index finger has been peeled back from the base and is bleeding. The finger is swollen but appears to bend normally. He keeps licking the finger and will not come down from the mesh.

What is the most appropriate action for the keeper?

1. Guide him into a dark box and press with clean gauze; if the finger is not deformed see the vet the same day, and if the bleeding will not stop transport now
2. Licking will heal it, so leave it to nature and check in a week whether the swelling is down
3. Cut off the torn nail with scissors, apply antiseptic and return him to the troop
4. Peel him off the mesh to catch him, and wrap the finger tightly in a bandage to immobilize it

AnswerA. Guide him into a dark box and press with clean gauze; if the finger is not deformed see the vet the same day, and if the bleeding will not stop transport now

ExplanationA nail torn from the base bleeds heavily and may involve the bone or tendons of the finger. As the manual says, guide him into a dark box and press to stop bleeding; if there is no deformity or dislocation, see the vet the same day, and if bleeding will not stop, go now. Continued licking leads to infection from oral bacteria, and he could lose the finger. An amateur cutting the nail provokes a struggle and bites from pain, and deepens the wound. Forcing him off the mesh tears the finger further, and a tight bandage cuts off blood flow. Even after treatment, it will recur if the mesh stays coarse, so the environment must be improved.

IssuesCoarse mesh that fingers can enter was kept in use, leaving the risk of claw and finger lacerations unaddressed. There was no regular claw check, and the capture/guidance method after an injury was not standardized among staff.

ImprovementReplace the mesh with fine mesh fingers cannot enter or with solid walls, and make climbing surfaces logs or thick rope. Check claws and fingers at the monthly weigh-in. Make guiding into a dark box the standard capture procedure, and stock gauze and a transport box in the house.

A January evening. In the indoor house, a heater's extension cord had been run along the outside of the mesh, and a 2-year-old female ring-tailed lemur reached through the mesh, bit the insulation, screamed with a spark and fell to the floor. The area around her mouth looks scorched, she is limp and her breathing is shallow. The cord is still touching the mesh.

What is the most appropriate first action for the staff member?

1. Pick her up immediately, check the burn in her mouth and cool it with water
2. First pull the power plug, then approach, check breathing and heartbeat, and transport now while phoning the hospital
3. It was a mild shock, so let her rest in the nest box and check whether she eats in the morning
4. Apply human burn ointment to the scorched mouth, give her water and watch

AnswerB. First pull the power plug, then approach, check breathing and heartbeat, and transport now while phoning the hospital

ExplanationIn an electrical accident the rescuer can also be shocked, so cutting the power comes first. Touching the animal or the mesh while the cord is in contact with it causes a secondary accident. After cutting the power, check breathing and heartbeat and transport now while phoning the hospital. Besides mouth burns, electric shock can cause arrhythmia and pulmonary edema hours later, so even if it 'looks mild' she must not be left to rest in the nest box. Human burn ointment gets licked and causes poisoning, and giving water with mouth burns causes aspiration. Mouth burns prevent eating and lead to dehydration, so veterinary treatment is needed.

IssuesThe cord was run within reach, ignoring this species' dexterity and habit of pulling objects through the mesh. The basic procedure of cutting the power first in an electrical accident had not been shared with staff.

ImprovementKeep cords 1 m or more from the mesh or run them through metal conduit, and place no electrical equipment within reach. Install heaters outside the enclosure, and post the breaker location and how to cut the power in the house. Check cords for bite marks on the morning patrol.

An April holiday. In a crowded exhibit, a visitor threw a small bag of chocolate through the mesh, and three of the ring-tailed lemur troop fought over it and ate it. An hour later, two are running around restlessly and one has vomited. It is unknown which animal ate how much.

What is the most appropriate action for the keeper?

1. The vomiting got the poison out, so make the other two run until they vomit too and watch
2. They ate only a little, so give extra water and check tomorrow's stool
3. Collect the wrapper, record the type and estimated amount, take every animal that may have eaten it to the vet now, and step up observation of the whole troop
4. The two lively ones are fine, so take only the one that vomited to the vet tomorrow morning

AnswerC. Collect the wrapper, record the type and estimated amount, take every animal that may have eaten it to the vet now, and step up observation of the whole troop

ExplanationTheobromine in chocolate affects smaller animals more strongly, causing agitation, vomiting, rapid heart rate and seizures, and can be fatal. For a 2–3 kg ring-tail even a small bag can be a dangerous dose, so collect the wrapper, record the type and estimated amount, and take every animal that may have eaten it to the vet now. When it is unknown who ate how much, treating all of them is the safe side. Absorption continues even after vomiting, and making them run adds strain on the heart. Symptoms can take hours to appear, so waiting until morning for animals that look fine is dangerous.

IssuesThe exhibit's structure let visitors throw objects through the mesh, and supervision and warnings during busy periods were lacking. The rule 'if it's unknown who ate it, treat all of them' had not been set.

ImprovementInstall a barrier and clear panel in front of the mesh so nothing can be thrown in. Station an attendant at the exhibit on holidays and place no-feeding signs prominently. Post a poisoning response chart (list of harmful foods, vet-visit criteria, principle of treating all animals) in the house and share it among staff.

A March afternoon. An earthquake of seismic intensity 6 has tilted part of the outdoor exhibit's mesh, and the ring-tailed lemur troop of eight is running around in panic. Aftershocks continue, and visitors need to be evacuated. One animal is about to get out through the gap in the tilted mesh, and another has fallen and is limping. There are two staff members.

What is the most appropriate division of roles for the two staff members?

1. Both tend to the injured animal and leave the troop and visitors for later
2. Both enter the troop, catch every animal and carry them indoors
3. Gather the visitors and have them help catch the troop
4. One moves visitors away while blocking the escape gap with a board; the other guides the troop indoors and closes the door, then once things are calm checks the injured animal and contacts the vet

AnswerD. One moves visitors away while blocking the escape gap with a board; the other guides the troop indoors and closes the door, then once things are calm checks the injured animal and contacts the vet

ExplanationIn a disaster, securing human safety and containing the animals proceed in parallel. If a CITES Appendix I primate gets off the grounds, recovery is difficult and bites to people are possible, so top priority is moving visitors away while blocking the gap with a board. If the other staff member simultaneously guides the troop indoors and closes the door, safety is secured even during aftershocks. Check the injured animal and contact the vet once the troop is calm. Treating first invites escapes and visitor accidents. Entering a panicking troop to catch animals carries a high risk of bites. Having visitors help capture is strictly prohibited because of bite and infection risks.

IssuesEarthquake roles (containment, visitor guidance, first aid) had not been assigned, and there was no provision for the mesh's seismic resistance or materials to block gaps. Training to guide animals indoors was not practiced routinely.

ImprovementDraw up a disaster role chart that states containment as top priority. Stock boards, rope and tools in each house and inspect the mesh for seismic resistance annually. Train animals daily to come indoors on a signal so the troop can be housed quickly in an emergency. Include housing the animals in the annual evacuation drill.

A November morning. In a ring-tailed lemur troop, one 3-year-old female sits alone on a low shelf in a corner and joins neither sunbathing nor grooming. Troop members that approach threaten and drive her off, and she has a small patch of hair loss and scratches on her back. She ate almost none of yesterday evening's food, and she weighed 200 g less than last month.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. Rank disputes are natural, so leave her in the troop and watch how it goes
2. Illness or injury can cause a drop in rank, so have the vet examine her the same day and set up a separate feeding spot so she can eat
3. Remove her from the troop permanently and keep her quietly in a solitary cage
4. Give her extra fruit to put her in a good mood so the others accept her

AnswerB. Illness or injury can cause a drop in rank, so have the vet examine her the same day and set up a separate feeding spot so she can eat

ExplanationRing-tailed lemurs live in female-dominant troops, and an animal in poor health often falls in rank and is attacked. Not joining sunbathing or grooming, loss of appetite and weight loss match the manual's warning signs, and being isolated and attacked is a same-day vet criterion. Have the vet check for hidden illness or injury and set up a separate feeding spot so she can eat. Dismissing it as 'natural' leads to death from weakness and attacks. Permanent solitary housing is highly stressful for a strongly social species and makes reintegration difficult. Winning favor with fruit raises diabetes risk and does not solve the rank problem.

IssuesStaff could not tell rank disputes from ill health and dismissed the signs of appetite and weight loss as 'a troop problem'. There was nowhere a chased animal could eat safely.

ImprovementRecord each animal's participation in sunbathing and grooming and its food intake daily, and set a rule to see the vet after two consecutive days of non-participation. Provide more feeding spots and hiding places than animals so subordinates can eat. Weigh monthly and consult the vet at a 10% loss.

January. In a house kept at 20°C, a 4-year-old male mouse lemur has been in torpor since December. At the start his tail was fat and he weighed 90 g, but this week's measurement is down to 65 g. On the weekly weigh-ins he has dropped 10 g since last week. He feels cold to the touch in the nest box and moves only slightly. He has not touched the evening food.

What is the most appropriate action for the keeper?

1. The weight loss during torpor is too fast, so wake and warm him, resume evening feeding and consult the vet the same day
2. Weight loss during torpor is only natural, so stop weighing and keep quiet until spring
3. Raise the room to 30°C to force him awake and end the torpor early
4. He is thin, so give him large amounts of high-calorie fruit and honey when he wakes

AnswerA. The weight loss during torpor is too fast, so wake and warm him, resume evening feeding and consult the vet the same day

ExplanationIn mouse lemur torpor, tail fat is used up gradually, so slow weight loss is normal, but over 10 g in a week and nearly 30% since the start is a dangerous state where the fat has run out. As the manual says, weigh weekly even during torpor, and if weight drops sharply, wake and warm him, resume evening feeding and consult the vet the same day. Stopping weigh-ins means weakness goes unnoticed. A sudden rise to 30°C outpaces his thermoregulation and causes shock. Large amounts of fruit and honey burden a digestive tract just out of torpor and raise diabetes risk, so return to the normal diet of insects and tree-sap gum in small amounts.

IssuesThe boundary between normal weight loss in torpor and dangerous rapid loss had not been defined, and there were no criteria for evaluating the trend in measurements. Although the weight standard for allowing torpor was met, no criteria for interrupting it had been prepared.

ImprovementContinue weekly weigh-ins during torpor, and set a criterion to wake the animal at a 20% loss from the start or 5 g or more in a week. After waking, feed the normal diet in small amounts in the evening and keep the room at 20–26°C. Make a weight graph for each animal in torpor that all keepers can see.

A June morning. The left cheek of a 16-year-old male ring-tailed lemur is badly swollen, bulging up to below the eye. Since yesterday he spits out food put in his mouth, though he drinks a little water. His breath smells strongly and he tries to touch the swollen area with his hand. He had been avoiding hard vegetables for several months, but this was not recorded.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. Press ice on the cheek to cool the swelling and see if it goes down in 2–3 days
2. Force the mouth open, squeeze out the pus and wash with antiseptic
3. Suspect a tooth-root abscess; do not force the mouth open, keep him hydrated with soft vegetable puree, and have the vet do an oral exam the same day
4. Mix human antibiotics into his food for a week

AnswerC. Suspect a tooth-root abscess; do not force the mouth open, keep him hydrated with soft vegetable puree, and have the vet do an oral exam the same day

ExplanationSwelling from the cheek to below the eye, strong bad breath and a history of avoiding hard items are classic for a tooth-root abscess, the result of advanced periodontal disease in an elderly animal. The manual lists facial swelling as same-day, and an oral exam and treatment under sedation will be needed. Do not force the mouth open; secure fluids and nutrition with soft vegetable puree. Ice does not cure an abscess, and after days of neglect the pus spreads to the eye and jawbone. An amateur squeezing pus provokes a violent bite from pain and spreads the infection. Human antibiotics are of unknown type and dose, and an abscess will not heal without drainage and treatment of the causal tooth.

IssuesThe sign of avoiding hard vegetables several months ago was not recorded, so early periodontal disease was missed. The annual oral exam for elderly animals had not been done.

ImprovementMake changes in eating (one-sided chewing, avoiding hard items, dropping food) a required log item handed over between keepers. For animals aged 10 and over, examine the teeth at an annual check-up under sedation. Give branches and hard vegetables routinely to create an environment that wears tartar off naturally.

August. A small bite wound on the arm of a 9-year-old female ring-tailed lemur has not closed after a month; it is moist and the surrounding fur has fallen out. She is lively with a good appetite and is always first in line at the visitor fruit-feeding sessions. She drinks rather a lot, but staff assumed that was the summer. Her weight is stable.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. She is lively and eating, so apply over-the-counter ointment to the wound and watch
2. Summer humidity is just slowing healing, so increase sunbathing to dry it out
3. Wrap a tight bandage to stop her licking it and return her to the troop
4. Suspect an underlying condition such as diabetes from the non-healing wound and excessive drinking; ask the vet for wound treatment and blood and urine tests, and stop the fruit feeding

AnswerD. Suspect an underlying condition such as diabetes from the non-healing wound and excessive drinking; ask the vet for wound treatment and blood and urine tests, and stop the fruit feeding

ExplanationDiabetes in lemurs can show up as slow-healing wounds and excessive drinking, and cannot be ruled out just because the animal is lively and eating. A wound that has not closed in a month is a sign of infection or an underlying disease, requiring veterinary wound treatment and blood and urine tests. Since fruit feeding is the trigger, stop it immediately. Over-the-counter ointment gets licked and swallowed and leaves the cause untreated. Blaming humidity lets diabetes progress to cataracts and infections. A tight bandage cuts off blood flow, ring-tails remove and eat bandages, and it prompts the others to bite the wound.

IssuesVisitor fruit feeding had become routine, leaving diabetes risk unaddressed. Increased drinking was blamed on the season, with no perspective linking it to the non-healing wound. There was no deadline for monitoring the wound.

ImprovementSwitch visitor feeding to leafy greens and limit fruit to under 10% of the total. Set a standard that wounds not healed within a week are seen by the vet. Record water intake against the seasonal average and test if it greatly exceeds the average even in summer. Run annual blood and urine tests on all animals.

September. Two weeks after construction began on an adjacent building, a 5-year-old male in the ring-tailed lemur troop is pulling out his own tail fur and repeatedly pacing back and forth over the same spot. There is hair loss and red skin in the middle of his tail, and he spends more time away from the others. His appetite is slightly reduced.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. It will resolve when the construction ends, so do nothing and wait for it to finish
2. Suspect stress-related self-injury; improve the environment with hiding places far from the noise and more foraging activity, and have the vet examine the skin to rule out skin disease
3. Apply human anti-itch cream to the bald patch and fit a homemade Elizabethan collar so he cannot lick his tail
4. Move this animal to a solitary cage to reduce stress on the troop

AnswerB. Suspect stress-related self-injury; improve the environment with hiding places far from the noise and more foraging activity, and have the vet examine the skin to rule out skin disease

ExplanationEnvironmental stress such as noise causes self-injury and stereotypic behavior (repeating the same movement) in primates, progressing to hair loss and dermatitis. The manual lists hair loss and repetitive movements as warning signs. Add hiding places far from the noise and prolong foraging time with food-hiding feeders to improve the environment, while having the vet check for hidden skin disease such as parasites or fungus. Waiting for the construction to end lets the self-injury become habitual and the skin infection advance. Human anti-itch cream gets licked and swallowed, and a homemade collar blocks troop grooming and foraging, increasing stress. Moving a strongly social ring-tail to a solitary cage adds further stress.

IssuesThe start of construction was not known in advance, and neither hiding places nor moving the troop to protect it from noise had been considered. The early stage of stereotypic behavior was missed and left for two weeks.

ImprovementFind out about nearby construction and events in advance, and when noise is expected add hiding places and move the troop if needed. Add stereotypic behavior and hair loss to the daily observation list and start environmental improvements the day they appear. Make time-consuming feeding methods routine to give an outlet for stress.

April. On day 5 of holding a 2-year-old female ring-tailed lemur transferred from another facility in the quarantine room, a staff member found thin white worms in her stool. She is lively with a good appetite. The sending facility reported her 'healthy', the quarantine period was planned at two weeks, and she was to join the troop next week.

What is the most appropriate response for the staff member?

1. Seal the stool and ask the vet for a fecal exam, clean and disinfect the quarantine room with gloves, and postpone the introduction until treatment and a re-test are complete
2. She is lively, so introduce her to the troop next week as planned and give the whole troop a dewormer
3. Give an over-the-counter dog dewormer dosed by body weight and introduce her on schedule
4. The worms will pass naturally, so end quarantine at two weeks and introduce her

AnswerA. Seal the stool and ask the vet for a fecal exam, clean and disinfect the quarantine room with gloves, and postpone the introduction until treatment and a re-test are complete

ExplanationVisible worms in the stool confirm a parasitic infection, and even in a lively animal, bringing it into the troop causes diarrhea and weakness in infants and elderly animals. Seal the stool for a fecal exam, have the vet prescribe deworming matched to the species of parasite, and postpone the introduction until a re-test is negative. Clean and disinfect the quarantine room with gloves. The manual's standard for new arrivals is 30+ days of quarantine; two weeks is too short. Deworming after introduction allows the infection to spread. Dog dewormers have no established safety or dosing in prosimians, and giving them without knowing the parasite species is dangerous. There is no guarantee the worms pass naturally, and some species infect humans.

IssuesThe quarantine was a short two weeks, with a plan to introduce her without a fecal exam. The sending facility's word 'healthy' was taken at face value and in-house testing was skipped.

ImprovementSet quarantine for new arrivals at 30+ days, with two negative fecal exams, on arrival and before introduction, as the condition for joining the troop. Provide dedicated boots and tools for the quarantine room and work on the healthy troop first. Obtain test records in writing from the sending facility.

A December morning. A 3-year-old female ring-tailed lemur who had been sleeping on top of a panel heater in the indoor house has scorched belly fur and red, raw skin. The heater had no protective cover and its surface had become hot. She keeps licking her belly and curls her body when walking. Her appetite is fine.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. Apply a thick layer of human burn ointment so the rawness does not spread and return her to the troop
2. Wrap ice in a towel, press it on her belly and keep cooling for 30 minutes or more
3. Switch off the heater, cool the area lightly under running water, put her in a box so she cannot lick it, and see the vet the same day
4. She is eating, so there is no problem; trim the scorched fur and watch

AnswerC. Switch off the heater, cool the area lightly under running water, put her in a box so she cannot lick it, and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA low-temperature burn from prolonged contact with a heater surface is deeper than it looks, and the skin may die over several days. First switch off the heater that caused it, cool the area lightly under lukewarm running water, then put her in a dark box so licking does not make it worse, and see the vet the same day. Human burn ointment gets licked and swallowed and interferes with assessing the skin. Prolonged cooling with ice damages tissue and causes hypothermia in a 2–3 kg animal. Even with an appetite, the burn progresses, and if infected it becomes extensive necrosis. Heaters must always have a cover, and products that do not get hot when sat on should be chosen.

IssuesA panel heater without a protective cover was placed inside the enclosure and its surface temperature was not checked. The layout did not account for lemurs' habit of sitting in warm places for long periods.

ImprovementInstall heaters outside the enclosure or where animals cannot touch them; if placed inside, always fit a cover and temperature control. Measure the surface temperature before winter. Create several warm spots so no animal stays pressed against one for long. Post the vet-visit criteria for burns.

A July afternoon. In the outdoor exhibit, a 5-year-old male ring-tailed lemur slipped off a rock, and one claw on a hind foot was torn off at the base and is bleeding. He licks the wound on top of the rock, blood dripping. Troop members gather to sniff the wound and several begin threatening him. When the keeper arrives, a dominant female is trying to drive the injured animal away.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. It is a natural troop reaction, so do not intervene; watch on the rock to see if the bleeding stops by itself
2. Pick up the injured animal in the middle of the troop and stop the bleeding
3. He is bleeding, so sprinkle human styptic powder on him from a distance
4. Use the doors to guide the injured animal indoors and away from the troop, then once he is calm press with gauze to stop the bleeding and see the vet the same day

AnswerD. Use the doors to guide the injured animal indoors and away from the troop, then once he is calm press with gauze to stop the bleeding and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA ring-tailed lemur troop may react to a weakened animal or the smell of blood by attacking, so leaving the injured animal in the troop is dangerous. Use the doors to guide him indoors and away from the troop, then once he is calm press with clean gauze to stop the bleeding, and because damage at the claw base can involve the bone, see the vet the same day. Without intervention, renewed attacks add more wounds. Picking him up in the troop gets you bitten by excited troop members. Styptic powder does not work on deep wounds and causes contamination and licking. After treatment, return him to the troop only once the wound has healed, with a planned time of day and observation.

IssuesThe slippery rock surface and the lack of a procedure for quickly separating an injured animal from the troop. Preparation did not account for the troop's habit of attacking weakened animals.

ImprovementReplace rock and shelf surfaces with non-slip material and lay padding at landing points. Practice guiding animals indoors and separating them during daily feeding so it can be used in an emergency. Keep gauze and a transport box near the exhibit, and agree the post-treatment reintroduction procedure with the vet.

A March evening. An 18-year-old elderly male ring-tailed lemur fell from a shelf and lies on the floor with his hips raised, unable to move his hind legs. He is in pain and threatens approaching staff but cannot flee. The troop has already been housed indoors; only this animal remains in the exhibit. A transport box and a thick cloth are available.

What is the most appropriate capture method for transporting him to the vet?

1. Grab his tail, pull him in and quickly put him in the transport box
2. Gently drape the thick cloth over his head to block his view, support his chest and hips through the cloth, place him in the box keeping him horizontal, and transport dark and warm
3. Hold his hind legs and lift him upside down, putting him in the box before he struggles
4. Leave him on the floor until he can move and carry him in the morning

AnswerB. Gently drape the thick cloth over his head to block his view, support his chest and hips through the cloth, place him in the box keeping him horizontal, and transport dark and warm

ExplanationA fall leaving the hind legs immobile suggests a fracture of the pelvis or spine, and mishandling worsens paralysis. Draping a thick cloth over the head to block his view calms him and prevents bites. Support the chest and hips through the cloth, keep the body horizontal, place him in the transport box, keep it dark and warm, and carry him without jolting. Grabbing the tail damages it and strains the spine; the manual bans capture by the tail. Hanging him upside down shifts the fracture and damages nerves. Leaving him until morning worsens his condition through pain, shock and hypothermia. Same-day vet care is the standard, and body temperature and breathing should be checked during transport.

IssuesThe layout had not been changed in anticipation of elderly animals falling from heights, and there was no capture procedure after a fall. Basics such as not grabbing the tail and keeping the body horizontal had not sunk in with staff.

ImprovementProvide low shelves and sloped walkways for elderly animals and lay padding below high points. Train annually in cloth capture and horizontal transport, and stock a transport box and thick cloth in each house. Confirm the transport method for suspected spinal injury with the vet and post it.

October. A 4-year-old male ring-tailed lemur was bitten on the cheek in a breeding-season fight; the keeper judged it 'a small wound', did not take him to the vet and returned him to the troop. Five days later the cheek is swollen and hot, and yellow fluid is coming from the wound. He is listless, and when food goes into his mouth he spits it out in apparent pain.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. Suspect an abscess; separate him from the troop, see the vet the same day and ask for drainage and treatment
2. Press the swollen area by hand to squeeze out the pus, wash with antiseptic and return him to the troop
3. Mix human antibiotics into his food and watch for 3 days
4. The swelling will burst and heal on its own, so warm it and wait for the pus to drain

AnswerA. Suspect an abscess; separate him from the troop, see the vet the same day and ask for drainage and treatment

ExplanationBite wounds from lemur canines are deep, and even when the surface closes, bacteria multiply inside and readily form an abscess. The manual says bite wounds abscess easily and require a same-day vet visit, and swelling, heat and pus are definitive signs of an abscess. Separate him from the troop, see the vet the same day, and have the vet drain, flush and prescribe antibiotics. An amateur squeezing pus gets bitten from the pain and pushes bacteria deeper. Human antibiotics are the wrong type and dose, and an abscess will not heal without drainage. Warming it and waiting for it to burst lets a facial abscess spread to the eye and jawbone and risks sepsis.

IssuesThe self-judgment of 'a small wound' skipped the vet visit, ignoring the basic fact that bite wounds abscess easily. There was no system for recording and following up wounds from breeding-season fights.

ImprovementReport every bite wound, whatever its size, to the vet the same day and let them decide whether treatment is needed. Create a wound record sheet (date, site, progress photos) and check every 3 days. In breeding season, record fights daily and observe injured animals' eating and behavior individually.

February. In the nocturnal mouse lemur house, the last 3 cm of a 3-year-old female's tail has turned black and dry, and feels cold and hard to the touch. There is a record of her tail being caught in a gap in the nest-box door a week ago, but with no bleeding it was judged 'fine' at the time. She is bothered by the tail tip and chews it. Her appetite is normal.

What is the most appropriate response for the keeper?

1. The black part will drop off naturally, so watch that she does not chew it
2. Cut off the discolored part with scissors, disinfect and return her to the nest box
3. Judge this as tail necrosis, see the vet the same day and discuss treatment including amputation
4. Wrap the tail in a warm towel and massage it to improve circulation

AnswerC. Judge this as tail necrosis, see the vet the same day and discuss treatment including amputation

ExplanationA tail tip that is black, dry, cold and hard is necrosis from blood flow cut off when it was caught. The manual says a necrotic tail means amputation and a same-day vet visit; left alone, the necrosis spreads toward the base and infection goes systemic. Chewing is a sign of pain and discomfort, and if she chews it off herself it causes bleeding and infection. An amateur cutting it misjudges the boundary between dead and healthy tissue, causing bleeding and severe pain. Warming and massage do nothing for dead tissue and damage the boundary. Mouse lemurs store fat in the tail, and tail injury affects torpor and weight management, so discuss future management with the vet too.

IssuesThe vet visit was skipped because there was no bleeding when the tail was caught, and staff did not know that impaired blood flow can progress to necrosis later. A gap in the small species' nest-box door that trapped the tail was left in place.

ImprovementWhen a tail or finger is caught, report to the vet the same day regardless of bleeding, and check color and temperature daily for several days. Replace nest-box doors with gap-free designs or cloth flaps. Record small species' tail fat stores and health at the monthly weigh-in.

10 p.m. in August. On rounds of the ring-tailed lemur house, the night-duty staff member finds that a 7-year-old female has eaten none of her evening food. She looks normal sitting on a shelf, but on closer inspection her belly is distended and hard, and she occasionally curls up and opens her mouth. No defecation has been recorded today. The day shift handed over that a staff member had lost track of a plastic bag inside the house.

What is the most appropriate decision for the night-duty staff member?

1. She seems fine, so wait until the vet arrives in the morning and see whether she eats
2. Put a hot-water bottle in the enclosure to warm her belly and encourage defecation, and watch
3. Dissolve human constipation medicine in water, give it to her, and see if she passes stool by morning
4. Suspect intestinal obstruction from a foreign object; phone the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital, report the symptoms and the handover, and prepare for transport as instructed

AnswerD. Suspect intestinal obstruction from a foreign object; phone the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital, report the symptoms and the handover, and prepare for transport as instructed

ExplanationThe combination of not eating for over half a day, a hard distended belly, no defecation and a missing plastic bag strongly suggests intestinal obstruction from a foreign object. Obstruction progresses to intestinal necrosis and perforation within hours, so even if she looks fine, phone the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital, report the symptoms and the handover, and prepare for transport as instructed. The manual's 'not eating for over half a day' is same-day and limpness is go-now; when obstruction is suspected, consult even at night. Waiting until morning means perforation and too late. Warming does not move the object, and laxatives risk injuring the blocked intestine and causing perforation.

IssuesWork ended with a plastic bag brought into the house unaccounted for, and the possibility of ingestion was not passed to night duty with enough urgency. Nighttime vet-visit criteria were unclear to the night-duty staff member.

ImprovementCount items brought into the house on entry and exit, and if one goes missing, have all staff search immediately and report to the vet. Post the emergency (after-hours) hospital contact and the 'go now' and 'same day' criteria in the night-duty room. Record every animal's food intake and defecation at closing and make any with zero a priority for night-duty observation.

A June afternoon. A 10-month-old young ring-tailed lemur missed a jump and fell into the moat pond surrounding the outdoor exhibit. The bank is vertical concrete, and she is paddling desperately but cannot climb out. Her mother is calling from the bank. Staff rushed over with a net and a long board, but the pond is over 1 m deep.

What is the most appropriate first action for the staff?

1. Watch until she can climb out on her own, then call her with food once she calms down
2. Slide the long board into the water as a foothold, scoop her out quickly with the net, warm her in a towel, check her breathing and see the vet the same day
3. Jump into the pond, hold her and climb out onto the bank
4. Bring the mother to the pond's edge and let her rescue her

AnswerB. Slide the long board into the water as a foothold, scoop her out quickly with the net, warm her in a towel, check her breathing and see the vet the same day

ExplanationLemurs are poor swimmers, and against a vertical bank they tire and drown within minutes. Slide the board in as a foothold, scoop her out quickly with the net, dry and warm her in a towel, and check breathing and consciousness. If she inhaled water, pneumonia can follow, so see the vet the same day, and transport now if she is limp. Watching means waiting for her to drown. A person jumping in gets bitten by a panicking animal and risks drowning themselves. The mother cannot rescue her, and may fall in too. After rescue, watch for hypothermia and observe her in a warm, dark box.

IssuesThe moat's vertical bank meant an animal that fell in could not get out on its own. No fence or gentle bank had been built in anticipation of young animals missing jumps, and water-rescue equipment and procedures were not prepared.

ImprovementAdd a slope or climbable net to the moat bank and a fence at the water's edge. Keep a net, board and towels near the exhibit and post the rescue procedure. When infants start to become independent, inspect jumping routes and remove shelves near the water. Considering pneumonia after near-drowning, observe breathing for several days.

A May morning. When a staff member closed the sliding feeding-hatch door, it caught the finger of a 2-year-old male ring-tailed lemur who was reaching out from inside the mesh. He screamed and pulled his hand back; his middle finger is swollen and bent unnaturally sideways. There is no bleeding. He sits in a corner of the shelf hugging the hand to his chest and licking the finger.

What is the most appropriate response for the staff member?

1. There is no bleeding, but the bent finger may be dislocated or fractured, so guide him into a dark box and see the vet the same day
2. There is no bleeding so it is fine; watch until the swelling goes down
3. Push the bent finger back into place by hand and tape it to the neighboring finger
4. Soak the hand in ice water to ease the pain and give human painkiller

AnswerA. There is no bleeding, but the bent finger may be dislocated or fractured, so guide him into a dark box and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA finger bent unnaturally sideways and swollen is a dislocation or fracture; even without bleeding, left alone it sets deformed and impairs climbing and foraging. As the manual says, guide him into a dark box and see the vet the same day for reduction and immobilization. An amateur pushing the finger back damages bone fragments and ligaments further and provokes a violent bite from pain. Soaking in ice water makes him struggle, restraint is dangerous, and human painkillers have unknown safety in prosimians and mask pain so he uses the injured part. The hatch should also be redesigned so hands cannot reach it during operation.

IssuesThe animal's hand position was not checked when closing the hatch door, and there was no operating procedure accounting for dexterous lemurs' habit of reaching through the mesh.

ImprovementCall out and confirm the animal's position before closing the hatch door, and modify it to a design hands cannot reach (double slide or push-out type). Fit padding to the door and hardware that prevents sudden closing. Post the vet-visit criteria for crush injuries (deformity or swelling: same day).

Early morning in September. The outdoor exhibit's entrance was left unlocked after the previous evening's work, the wind blew the door open, and the ring-tailed lemur troop of eight got out onto the path. When the arriving staff member found them, the troop was bunched together in the shrubbery along the path, eating grass. Opening is two hours away and there are no visitors yet. Three staff have gathered.

What is the most appropriate response for the three staff members?

1. Surround the troop with three people and run at them together to drive them into the exhibit
2. Catch them one at a time with a net and carry them to the exhibit
3. Do not chase; leave the exhibit door open, place their favorite leafy greens inside, guide them quietly without disturbing the troop's behavior, and at the same time contact the manager and municipal office and arrange to close off the path
4. There are no visitors yet, so leave them and wait for the troop to return by itself

AnswerC. Do not chase; leave the exhibit door open, place their favorite leafy greens inside, guide them quietly without disturbing the troop's behavior, and at the same time contact the manager and municipal office and arrange to close off the path

ExplanationStrongly social ring-tailed lemurs move together, so the basic approach is to guide them without chasing while they are still bunched together. Open the exhibit door and place favorite food to create a route for the troop to return naturally. Driving or netting scatters the troop, and powerful jumpers disperse off the grounds. An escape is a serious incident; even if it seems solvable on site, contacting the manager and the municipal office and closing off the path are mandatory, in case they cannot be housed before opening. Leaving them lets them disperse, leading to contact with visitors, escape off the grounds, bites and unrecoverable animals.

IssuesLock checks at closing relied on one person's memory with no double-check system. The escape contacts, roles and the basic policy of luring with favorite food were not shared with all staff.

ImprovementHave two people confirm locks and record it on a checklist. Fit doors with a sensor that warns of being left open or an automatic closer. Post an escape response chart (luring first, contacts, closure area) in each house and practice guiding the troop in an annual drill. Always keep favorite leafy greens in the refrigerator.

An April afternoon. In the indoor house, the end of a rope hung as a toy formed a loop, and a 4-year-old female ring-tailed lemur put her head through it during a jump; she is hanging in midair, struggling. Her feet do not reach the shelf and she cannot make a sound. The other animals are making a commotion around her. The staff member is just outside the house, and the scissors are in the office.

What is the most appropriate first action for the staff member?

1. Run to the office for the scissors and cut the rope after coming back
2. Enter the house immediately, lift her body to take the weight off her neck, loosen and remove the rope, check her breathing and see the vet the same day
3. Shake the rope to help her movements so she can free herself
4. Move the other animals to a separate room first, then go to the rescue

AnswerB. Enter the house immediately, lift her body to take the weight off her neck, loosen and remove the rope, check her breathing and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA constricted neck with no sound is an emergency of suffocation within minutes, with no time to fetch tools. Enter the house immediately, lift her body to take her weight off the neck, and loosen and remove the rope. She will struggle and may bite, but a thick cloth over her head, if available, calms her. After rescue, check breathing and consciousness; throat swelling and effects on the brain can appear later, so see the vet the same day, and transport now if she is limp. Shaking the rope tightens the constriction. Moving the other animals first wastes time and the rescue comes too late.

IssuesA rope that could form a loop was hung as a toy without inspecting the risk of the neck or limbs getting caught. Scissors and a cloth for emergencies were not kept in the house.

ImprovementFix rope ends so no loop can form, and choose a thickness the head cannot pass through. Check toys for frays, loops and slack on the morning patrol. Keep scissors, a thick cloth and a transport box at each house entrance, and post the procedure for neck and limb entanglement.

Dawn in November. A stray dog dug under the outdoor exhibit's fence and attacked the ring-tailed lemur troop; by the time the patrolling staff member rushed over, the dog had fled. The troop has taken refuge on the high shelves, but one animal lies motionless on the ground with a laceration on the belly, another is limping, and the others show no visible injuries. There are two staff members.

What is the most appropriate response for the two staff members?

1. Transport only the two with visible injuries and keep exhibiting the others as normal
2. Give top priority to the animal with the belly laceration, pressing to stop bleeding and transporting now; see the vet the same day for the limping one; and have all the remaining animals examined by the vet for dog bites and infection
3. Wait several hours for the troop to calm down before starting to check for injuries
4. Suture the belly laceration yourself and return the animal to the troop

AnswerB. Give top priority to the animal with the belly laceration, pressing to stop bleeding and transporting now; see the vet the same day for the limping one; and have all the remaining animals examined by the vet for dog bites and infection

ExplanationA belly laceration risks organ damage, so press to stop bleeding and transport now. Suspect a fracture in the limping animal and see the vet the same day. Even animals without visible injuries must all be examined, because dog bites are often hidden in the fur as tiny punctures that infect deep down and become abscesses or sepsis days later. There is also a risk of infectious disease from the dog. Treating only visible injuries misses hidden bites. Waiting several hours lets the lacerated animal die of blood loss. Amateur suturing invites infection and misses organ damage. Also attend to repairing the entry point and to the troop's hierarchy being disrupted by the stress of the attack.

IssuesThe fence could be dug under, so predator defenses were inadequate. Night patrol intervals were long, delaying discovery of the attack. The principle of examining all animals after an attack was not shared.

ImprovementBury mesh under the fence and install an electric fence or surveillance cameras around it. Increase night patrols or introduce motion-detection alarms. Create a procedure for predator attacks (priority transport of bleeding animals, examination of all animals, repair of entry points) and train with the vet.

A July morning. The cleaner spread chlorine-based disinfectant undiluted on the floor, did not rinse it adequately, merely diluted it with water, and returned the ring-tailed lemur troop to the house. 30 minutes later, two animals that licked the floor are drooling, pawing at their mouths, and one is vomiting. A strong chlorine smell lingers in the house.

What is the most appropriate first action for the keeper?

1. Move all animals to a separate room at once and ventilate, lightly rinse the mouths of symptomatic animals with water, and see the vet now with the disinfectant's product name
2. Drooling shows saliva is diluting the disinfectant, so just watch
3. Give milk to neutralize it and leave the disinfectant on the floor to dry
4. Take only the vomiting animal to the vet and observe the others in the house

AnswerA. Move all animals to a separate room at once and ventilate, lightly rinse the mouths of symptomatic animals with water, and see the vet now with the disinfectant's product name

ExplanationChlorine-based disinfectant damages the lining of the mouth and esophagus, and the vapor irritates the airways. First move all animals to a separate room to stop exposure, ventilate the house, and lightly rinse the mouths of symptomatic animals with water. The product name and concentration are needed for treatment, so bring them and see the vet now. Drooling is a sign of mucosal injury; the idea that saliva dilutes it is wrong. Milk does not suit their digestion, and giving it to a vomiting animal causes aspiration. Animals without symptoms can develop mucosal injury later, and leaving them in the house continues the exposure. Mucosal damage shows up days later as inability to eat, so observe all animals' appetite after the vet visit.

IssuesThe disinfectant dilution ratio and rinsing procedure were not followed, and animals were returned without confirming drying and ventilation. Cleaning and keeping staff did not share a standard for 'safe to return'.

ImprovementDilute disinfectant to the specified ratio and have the keeper confirm rinsing, drying and ventilation are complete before returning animals. Keep the safety data sheets for products used in the house so they can be shown in a poisoning. Create a cleaning and housing checklist confirmed by two people.

May. A staff member found the ring-tailed lemur troop eating the leaves of a shrub newly planted by a contractor for the exhibit's landscaping. The plant's name is unknown; the leaves are thick and ooze a white sap. Two hours later, three animals are drooling, and one has a fast heartbeat and labored breathing. The amount eaten seems to be from a few to a dozen or so leaves.

What is the most appropriate response for the staff?

1. They are herbivorous, so plants cannot poison them; just watch
2. Pull up the plant and throw it away, and give the animals extra water
3. Bag some branches and leaves to bring along, take the severely affected animal to the vet now, have every animal that may have eaten it examined, and remove the rest of the plant immediately
4. Give salt water to make them vomit and make all of them run to speed elimination

AnswerC. Bag some branches and leaves to bring along, take the severely affected animal to the vet now, have every animal that may have eaten it examined, and remove the rest of the plant immediately

ExplanationMany ornamental plants with white sap, such as oleander, are highly toxic to the heart and digestive tract, and an abnormal heartbeat and labored breathing are signs of cardiotoxicity. Bring branches and leaves to identify the plant, take the severely affected animal to the vet now, and have every animal that may have eaten it examined. Remove the remaining plant immediately to prevent further ingestion. Lemurs eat leaves as a staple but cannot recognize toxic plants, and new plants are especially dangerous. Throwing the plant away prevents identification and delays treatment. Inducing vomiting with salt water risks salt poisoning and aspiration, and running strains the heart.

IssuesThere was no procedure for the vet or a specialist to check the safety of plants before planting in the exhibit; it was left to the contractor. The plant was placed where animals could reach it without its name being known.

ImprovementCheck the name and toxicity of plants before planting in the exhibit and keep a list of approved safe species. Require contractors to submit plant names in writing. After planting, observe the troop's feeding behavior for several days. Post a list of toxic plants and a poisoning response chart in the house.

A January morning, 4°C outside and clear. The ring-tailed lemur troop is in the indoor house, and a new staff member who has heard that sunbathing is important for bone health is wondering whether to let them out into the outdoor exhibit to sunbathe. The outdoor area has no roof or windbreak, and the wind is strong. There is a UVB lamp indoors, but the staff member does not know how to use it.

What is the most appropriate decision for the new staff member?

1. Sunbathing is essential for health, so put them out for an hour even in the cold
2. The troop can decide for itself, so leave the door open and let them come and go as they like
3. Warmth matters more than sunbathing, so keep them indoors all winter without using the UVB lamp either
4. Do not put them outside below 10°C; use the UVB lamp indoors and ask a senior how to operate it

AnswerD. Do not put them outside below 10°C; use the UVB lamp indoors and ask a senior how to operate it

ExplanationThe ring-tailed lemur's suitable range is 15–28°C, and the manual says not to put them outside on days below 10°C. At 4°C with strong wind and no roof, the risk of hypothermia outweighs the benefit of sunbathing. In winter, use the UVB lamp indoors to support vitamin D3 synthesis, and allow short outdoor sunbathing on calm, clear days above 10°C. Leaving the door open drops the indoor temperature, and curious young animals that go out get chilled. Going all winter without the UVB lamp raises the risk of metabolic bone disease. Equipment you do not know how to use should not be operated on your own judgment; asking a senior is correct.

IssuesThe new staff member knew only the importance of sunbathing and had not been taught the temperature criteria for outdoor activity. Use of the UVB lamp had not been handed over, and the outdoor area had no roof or windbreak.

ImprovementPost the temperature criteria for going outside (not below 10°C; caution above 30°C) in the house and include them in new-staff training. Attach a card to the UVB lamp stating its position, exposure time and replacement date. Build a roofed sunny spot and windbreak in the outdoor exhibit so short sunbathing is possible even in winter.

A September afternoon. A large typhoon is forecast to make a direct hit tomorrow morning. The outdoor exhibit holds a ring-tailed lemur troop of ten, and the indoor house is cramped and normally used only at night. The exhibit's trees have branches that look ready to break, and part of the mesh is aging. A power outage is also likely. Staff need to take measures today.

What is the most appropriate measure for the staff?

1. House all animals indoors and lock up before dark, remove loose objects and reinforce the mesh, and stock hand warmers, blankets, and 2 days' water and food indoors in case of an outage
2. The troop is used to typhoons, so leave them outdoors and check on them in the morning
3. The cramped indoor house will cause fights, so split the troop half outdoors and half indoors
4. Decide whether to house them once the typhoon arrives, based on conditions

AnswerA. House all animals indoors and lock up before dark, remove loose objects and reinforce the mesh, and stock hand warmers, blankets, and 2 days' water and food indoors in case of an outage

ExplanationIn a typhoon, broken branches and flying debris tear the mesh, and the troop escapes or is injured. Before dark and before the wind rises, house all animals indoors and lock up, remove anything likely to blow around, and reinforce the mesh. Since an outage may stop heating and lighting, stock hand warmers, blankets, and 2 days' water and food indoors. Leaving them outdoors carries a high risk of escape and injury; even animals from Madagascar are not accustomed to Japanese typhoons. Leaving half outdoors exposes those animals to danger, and splitting the troop is itself stressful. Housing them once the typhoon arrives cannot secure staff safety either, and guiding is impossible in a gale.

IssuesHusbandry depended on the outdoor exhibit, with insufficient indoor space and supplies to house all animals safely for a long period. The aging mesh was known about but repairs were put off.

ImprovementUpgrade the indoor house to a size and structure where all animals can spend 2–3 days, with more hiding places and feeding spots than animals. Inspect and repair mesh, roofs and trees before typhoon season. Place disaster supplies (hand warmers, blankets, water, food, flashlights) in each house and set the housing criterion as 'before a storm warning is issued'.

A January morning. A ring-tailed lemur keeper has come to work with a 38°C fever and a cough. A family member has been diagnosed with influenza. Staff are short, and he says 'I'll wear a mask so it's fine' and intends to do the feeding and cleaning. The troop includes a 3-month-old infant and a 17-year-old elderly animal.

What is the most appropriate decision for the supervisor?

1. With a mask and gloves there is no problem, so let him work as usual
2. Ban him from entering the primate house, send him home and have him see a doctor. Other staff do the feeding and cleaning
3. Tell him just to keep away from the infant and the elderly animal and let him work
4. Explain that human colds do not pass to animals and tell him to step out of the house only when coughing

AnswerB. Ban him from entering the primate house, send him home and have him see a doctor. Other staff do the feeding and cleaning

ExplanationHuman influenza spreads to monkeys by droplets and can become severe. The manual says to stay off animal duties when feverish or coughing, and infants and elderly animals in particular are prone to severe illness. Ban a staff member with fever and cough from entering the primate house, send him home and have him see a doctor. A mask alone cannot fully prevent droplets during cleaning and feeding or contact via the hands. Keeping away from specific animals is meaningless in a species that stays in close contact and grooms each other. 'Human diseases don't pass to them' is wrong; like measles, tuberculosis and herpes, reverse infection from humans to monkeys is a major risk in facility housing.

IssuesShort staffing created a system that relied on unwell staff, and the rule banning entry when unwell was not enforced. Staff did not understand the risk of infection from humans to monkeys.

ImprovementPut in writing that staff with fever, cough or rash do not enter the primate house, and make a list of substitutes. Recommend influenza and measles vaccination for staff and take temperatures every morning in flu season. Run annual training on infections that pass from humans to monkeys.

October. A 12-year-old male ring-tailed lemur has had a wet cough for a month and has lost 500 g in three months. His appetite is slightly reduced. One of the keepers has had a cough for six months but says it is 'from smoking' and has not had the workplace health check. No other animals in the troop show symptoms so far.

What is the most appropriate response for the supervisor?

1. Treat it as a seasonal cold, keep him warm and watch
2. Move only the coughing animal to a separate room and let the troop and staff continue normal work
3. Suspect tuberculosis; isolate the coughing animal and have the vet test him, and have the staff member with the lingering cough get a chest exam at a medical facility. Record the troop's contacts and consult the public health center
4. Give the whole troop human cough syrup and see the vet if there is no improvement in 2 weeks

AnswerC. Suspect tuberculosis; isolate the coughing animal and have the vet test him, and have the staff member with the lingering cough get a chest exam at a medical facility. Record the troop's contacts and consult the public health center

ExplanationA wet cough lasting a month with marked weight loss are findings that suggest tuberculosis in monkeys, which spreads both from humans to monkeys and from monkeys to humans. The manual says to isolate animals with cough or weight loss and see the vet, and that keepers get an annual chest exam. Isolate the coughing animal for testing, and have the staff member with the lingering cough get a chest exam. Record which animals and staff have been in contact and consult the public health center for instructions. Assuming a cold lets it spread to the troop and staff. Isolating the animal alone solves nothing if the staff member is the source. Human cough syrup masks the cause, and the longer tuberculosis goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more it spreads.

IssuesThe staff member's lingering cough was left to his own judgment, and workplace health checks were not enforced. There was no system for viewing an animal's cough and weight loss from a zoonosis perspective.

ImprovementMake an annual chest exam mandatory for primate keepers, and require a doctor's visit for any cough lasting over 2 weeks. Set criteria for immediate isolation and testing of animals with cough or weight loss. Post the public health center's contact and set up a system to consult early when a zoonosis is suspected.

11 p.m. in February. A 6-year-old female ring-tailed lemur who had a seizure is to be taken to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital. It is an hour's drive, and the outside temperature is 2°C. The seizure has stopped but she is limp and her body is cold. To hand are a cardboard box, towels, a blanket, hand warmers and a carrier. The troop is making a commotion.

What is the most appropriate transport method?

1. Hold her on your lap in the heated car and speak to her repeatedly on the way to check her consciousness
2. Put her in the carrier, open the windows for fresh air, and drive fast so she does not get carsick
3. Put one troop member in the carrier with her for reassurance
4. Put her in a dark box lined with a towel, keep her warm with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket, drive gently, and phone the hospital with her condition and arrival time

AnswerD. Put her in a dark box lined with a towel, keep her warm with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket, drive gently, and phone the hospital with her condition and arrival time

ExplanationAn animal that is limp and cold after a seizure is at risk of hypothermia and another seizure, so put her in a dark box lined with a towel, keep her warm with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket, and drive gently, avoiding jolting, light and noise. Phone the hospital on departure with her condition and arrival time so they can prepare. Holding her on your lap risks a bite when she comes to, and speaking to her repeatedly may trigger a seizure. Open windows worsen hypothermia, and driving fast worsens her condition through jolting. A troop member in the carrier becomes excited in the cramped space and may attack the weakened animal. The manual says troop calls are calming, but that does not mean putting them in the same box.

IssuesThe basics of transport (dark, warm, quiet, call ahead) had not sunk in with staff, with a risk of judging by human instincts such as 'hold her' or 'keep her with a friend'. Nighttime transport supplies were not kept ready.

ImprovementKeep a transport box, towels, blanket, hand warmers and carrier together as a set in each house. Post the transport procedure and the emergency (after-hours) hospital contact, and make the pre-departure call mandatory. Run an annual transport drill and have all staff confirm the importance of warmth and gentle driving.

The middle of the night in April. While transporting a 3-year-old male ring-tailed lemur rescued from drowning to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital, the accompanying staff member notices the chest of the animal in the box has stopped moving and he does not respond when called. A hand on the left side of his chest feels no heartbeat. The hospital is 15 minutes away, there are two people including the driver, and the phone works.

What is the most appropriate action for the accompanying staff member?

1. Phone the hospital, describe the situation and ask for instructions, then as instructed squeeze both sides of the chest with fingers at 100–120 compressions per minute while continuing the journey
2. Give mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and keep blowing air into the lungs
3. Stop the car and attempt full resuscitation on the roadside, heading to the hospital only after the heartbeat returns
4. Judge it too late, close the lid of the box and just have the death confirmed at the hospital

AnswerA. Phone the hospital, describe the situation and ask for instructions, then as instructed squeeze both sides of the chest with fingers at 100–120 compressions per minute while continuing the journey

ExplanationStopped breathing and no heartbeat is cardiac arrest; as the manual says, first phone the hospital for instructions, then on the vet's instructions continue chest compressions suited to a ring-tail's size (squeeze both sides of the chest with fingers, 100–120 per minute) while continuing the journey. Mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing is banned because of the zoonotic infection risk. Stopping the car delays arrival, and the chance of the heartbeat returning is highest with hospital treatment. Cardiac arrest just after near-drowning has a chance of resuscitation, so it is too early to judge it hopeless. During resuscitation keep him warm, and leave the box lid open while maintaining warmth so he can be handed straight to the vet on arrival.

IssuesObservation after the drowning rescue was inadequate, and the change in breathing may have been noticed late. Staff had not trained in phoning and compression technique for cardiac arrest, leading to hesitation on the spot.

ImprovementWhen transporting an animal after near-drowning or with impaired consciousness, have the companion check chest movement and responsiveness every minute. Include the cardiac arrest procedure (phone, compression site and rate, no mouth-to-mouth) in the transport kit and practice on a model once a year. Phone the emergency (after-hours) hospital on departure and report any change in condition before arrival.