Ringo -- Birmingham's known pet lemur

Here are some images of what is most likely Birmingham's only pet lemur. His name is Ringo and he and his human, Billy, came to AIDS walk Sunday at Brother Bryan Park. I asked all the questions I know everyone asks Billy. He has a vet here in town whose mainstay is cats and dogs of course, but he had a concentration in primates in vet school. He makes many sounds including a meow and a chatter when he doesn't get what he wants. The tail is the part I love the most. Billy said he cost $2000, was bought from a woman in north Alabama and that it took much government tape to cut through to get this unusual critter. I don't think I have ever been so star struck by an animal before. I had heard about Ringo through two of our friends who babysat him one weekend.

When I Googled "pet lemur" I found a good bit of information on their diet (they are vegetarian and eat fruit and leaves in their natural habitat). Many species of this Madagascar monkey are indangered. I also unsurprisingly learned that there is a lot of controversy around the issue of primates as pets. This seems to be the case with all wild animals as sanctuaries, whose main purpose is to rescue exotic animals, have started to pop up all over the country. The Birmingham News did an article about a woman in Moulton, Ala. who has a large farm that has been converted into an exotic sanctuary.

I take no stand on the issue although the evidence shows that many moneys become aggresive when they become sexually mature -- it's part of their instictive behavior to establish dominance in their social groups. The National Geographic article I linked below looks at both sides of the issue.

Here is an excerpt:

Former Las Vegas organ grinder Sony Rickson, who owns four capuchin monkeys ranging in age from 7 to 12, created the Monkey Moms Web site to educate potential owners, and gets 200 e-mails a day seeking advice and guidance. "I think it takes a certain type of person to own a monkey," she said. "If you're committed, I don't have a problem with it."

My dad always told me as a kid that no exotic animal should be kept as a pet. He said wild animals many times have instincts that make them dangerous to humans and that they shouldn't be forced to live in an environment that goes against their biology and lineage. I definitely agree with that as far as tigers and lions go, but I don't know about small monkeys. Ringo sure seemed happy as did his owner to have him. Alabama has one of the best vet schools in the country at Auburn and it sounds like Billy has done all his homework. I guess the true test will be when the monkey goes through puberty. As fiesty a stage as that is for humans, at least we aren't known to rip the scalps off our parents -- steal their money and car keys -- maybe.

Click here to read what National Geographic has to say about it.

Click here for an article from The Austin Chronicle on the issue.