The Effects of Artificial UV-B Provision on Positional Sleeping Behaviour and Vitamin D3 Metabolites of Captive Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
2025
Danielle Walker | Paige Bwye | Sarah Richdon
Zoological environments aim to promote natural behaviours and optimal welfare conditions. Over the past decade, research on the use of artificial ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure has improved vitamin D3 levels and reduced incidences of metabolic bone disease in diurnal primates: however, this has not been investigated in nocturnals. Aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis), nocturnal lemurs often housed indoors in zoos with little to no exposure to natural sunlight, have been reported to have low vitamin D3 levels. This study aims to investigate the impacts of artificial UV-B as a supplemental healthcare strategy for aye-ayes, examining its influences on vitamin D3 levels and positional sleeping behaviour. The 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25OHD3) blood levels were tested before and after exposure to different levels of artificial UV-B and heat sources. Statistical analysis showed no correlation between UV-B and 25OHD3 at group parameter levels. However, one individual showed a positive correlation. Sleeping position duration analysis showed a potential basking behaviour with the use of increased ear exposure and other thermoregulatory responses. Despite representing 8.06% of the European captive aye-aye population, these findings highlight the need for further research on vitamin D3 parameters and responses to UV-B to optimise captive conditions and support the species&rsquo: long-term health.
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