Aye-aye | San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

Home » Why Are Aye Ayes Endangered » Aye-aye | San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

Maybe your like

Aye-aye

Daubentonia madagascariensis

Fascinating Facts

  • Aye-ayes are the world’s largest nocturnal primates, and a type of lemur.
  • They tap on trees to find grubs, then gnaw holes in the wood using their forward slanting incisors to create a small hole in which they insert their narrow middle finger to pull the grubs out.
  • This type of feeding strategy is called percussive foraging.
  • The aye-aye is an endangered species because of habitat loss as well as native superstition. Ancient Malagasy legend said the Aye-aye was a symbol of death so people frequently kill them on sight.

Habitat/Diet

Rainforests and deciduous forests of Madagascar. They eat animal matter, nuts, insect larvae, fruits, nectar, seeds, and fungi, classifying them as an omnivores.

Status in the Wild

Endangered – IUCN 2014

Range

Fragmented pockets of low population density across coastal Madagascar.

Location in the Zoo

Mammals Zone of the Sculpture Learning Plaza

Animals & Exhibits

  • Amphibians
    • Amazon milk frog
    • Axolotl
    • California tiger salamander
    • Panamanian golden frog
    • Poison Dart Frog
    • Red-eyed tree frog
    • Smoky jungle frog
    • Yosemite Toad
  • Birds
    • Andean condor
    • American White Pelican
    • Bali myna
    • Barn Owl
    • Black-faced ibis
    • Blue-fronted Amazon
    • Blue-headed macaw
    • Black-necked Swan
    • Blue-throated macaw
    • Blue-winged teal
    • Chilean Flamingo
    • Cochin Chicken
    • Crested Oropendola
    • Curl-crested araçari
    • Double-wattled Cassowary
    • East African Crowned Crane
    • Eclectus parrot
    • Emu
    • Eurasian Eagle Owl
    • Golden conure
    • Golden Eagle
    • Green Jay
    • Green-winged Macaw
    • Long-tailed Glossy Starling
    • Madagascar ibis
    • Magellanic Penguin
    • Ostrich
    • Pink-backed pelican
    • Red-fronted Macaw
    • Red-lored Amazon
    • Red-sided Eclectus Parrot
    • Ruddy Duck
    • Sacred Ibis
    • Salvin’s Amazon
    • Satyr Tragopan
    • Spectacled Owl
    • Temminck’s Tragopan
    • Turkey Vulture
    • Waldrapp Ibis
    • West African Crowned Crane
    • White-faced Whistling Duck
    • White ibis
    • Yellow-naped Amazon
    • Yellow-rumped cacique
  • Invertebrates
    • Australian Walking Stick
    • Black Widow Spider
    • Darkling Beetle
    • Dampwood Termites
    • Death Feigner Beetle
    • Honey Bees
    • Land Hermit Crab
    • Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
    • Red Harvester Ant
    • Thorny Phasmids
    • Trinidad Wood Cockroach
    • Velvet Ant
    • White-eyed Assassin Bug
  • Mammals
    • Bactrian camel
    • Black Rhinoceros
    • Black-and-white ruffed lemur
    • Black-tailed Prairie Dog
    • Bornean Orangutan
    • Chimpanzee
    • Chacoan Peccary
    • Coquerel’s sifaka
    • Crowned Lemur
    • Mandrill
    • Mexican gray wolf
    • Przewalski’s Horse
    • Red Ruffed Lemur
    • Red-bellied Lemur
    • Red-fronted Brown Lemur
    • Red Panda
    • Reticulated Giraffe
    • Ring-tailed Lemur
    • Slender-tailed Meerkat
    • Snow Leopard
    • Western Lowland Gorilla
    • Wolverine
  • Reptiles
    • Amazon tree boa
    • Caiman lizard
    • Common chuckwalla
    • Mojave Desert Tortoise
    • Emerald tree boa
    • Honduran spiny-tailed iguana
    • Komodo Dragon
    • Radiated tortoise
    • Red footed tortoise
    • Spider tortoise
    • Western pond turtle
    • Western Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise
  • Sculptures
    • WATER ZONE
      • Amoeba
      • Vorticella
      • Stentor
    • INVERTEBRATES ZONE
      • Centipede
      • Coconut crab
      • Giant clam
      • Giraffe weevil
      • Horseshoe crab
      • Leafcutter ant
      • Nautilus
      • Scorpion
      • Tardigrade
      • Termite mound
      • Vampire squid
      • Velella
    • FISH & AMPHIBIANS ZONE
      • Seahorse
      • Freshwater eel
      • Hammerhead shark
      • Piranha
      • Mudskipper
      • Goliath frog
      • Horned marsupial frog
      • Hellbender
      • Caecilian
      • Coelacanth
    • REPTILES & BIRDS ZONE
      • Salt water crocodile
      • Leatherback sea turtle
      • Galapagos marine iguana
      • Rattlesnake
      • Panther chameleon
      • California condor
      • Kiwi
      • Hoatzin
      • Tuatara
      • Burmese Python
      • Horned puffin
    • MAMMALS ZONE
      • Gray whale
      • Arctic hare
      • Pangolin
      • Indian flying fox
      • Duck-billed platypus
      • Tasmanian devil
      • Aye-aye
      • Star-nosed mole
      • Ethiopian wolf
  • Exhibits
    • Australian WalkAbout
    • Connie and Bob Lurie Education Center
    • Doelger Primate Discovery Center
    • Eagle Island/Lower Lake
    • Elinor Friend Playground
    • Fisher Family Children’s Zoo
    • Greenie’s Conservation Corner
    • Hearst Grizzly Gulch
    • Insect Zoo
    • Jones Family Gorilla Preserve
    • Koala Crossing
    • Koret Animal Rescue & Conservation Center (ARC)
    • Leanne B. Roberts African Savanna
    • Lion House
    • Lipman Family Lemur Forest
    • Meerkats and Prairie Dogs
    • Nature Trail
    • Penguin Island
    • Puente al Sur (Bridge to the South)
    • South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary
    • Wells Fargo Wildlife Theatre
  • Gardens
    • Welcome To Our Gardens
    • Browse Gardens
    • Gardens of the Fisher Family Children’s Zoo
    • Greenie’s Conservation Corner
    • Significant Trees and Plants
    • Themed Gardens

Recent Posts

  • Gift Giving and Forwarding Conservation
  • Find Your Zen: Unwind with “Zen at the Zoo” at SF Zoo & Gardens!
  • Saving Species Together: Meet the Critically Endangered Animals of SF Zoo & Gardens 🐾🌎
  • Touch, Learn & Explore: Discover the Sculpture Learning Plaza
  • Call to Action: Help Save Gorillas with Your Old Cell Phones!
Accessibility Accessibility modes Epilepsy Safe Mode Epilepsy Safe Mode Dampens color and removes blinks This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations. Visually Impaired Mode Visually Impaired Mode Improves website's visuals This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others. Cognitive Disability Mode Cognitive Disability Mode Helps to focus on specific content This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily. ADHD Friendly Mode ADHD Friendly Mode Reduces distractions and improve focus This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions. Blindness Mode Blindness Mode Allows using the site with your screen-reader This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it. Online Dictionary Start typing to search in Wikipedia Readable Experience Content Scaling Default Text Magnifier Readable Font Dyslexia Friendly Highlight Titles Highlight Links Font Sizing Default Line Height Default Letter Spacing Default Left Aligned Center Aligned Right Aligned Visually Pleasing Experience Dark Contrast Light Contrast Monochrome High Contrast High Saturation Low Saturation Adjust Text Colors Adjust Title Colors Adjust Background Colors Easy Orientation Mute Sounds Hide Images Hide Emoji Reading Guide Stop Animations Reading Mask Highlight Hover Highlight Focus Big Dark Cursor Big Light Cursor Cognitive Reading Virtual Keyboard Navigation Keys Voice Navigation Link navigator Select an option Reset Settings Hide Forever

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement

Compliance status:

We strongly believe in the importance of making the Internet available and accessible to everyone. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of their circumstances or abilities.

To achieve this goal, we strive to adhere closely to the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines provide instructions on how to make web content accessible to people with various disabilities. By following these guidelines, we ensure that our website is accessible to individuals with visual impairments, motor impairments, cognitive disabilities, and more.

Our website incorporates technologies that enhance accessibility at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows users with specific disabilities to customize the website's user interface (UI) according to their needs.

Additionally, our website employs an AI-based application that continuously optimizes its accessibility level. This application enhances the website's HTML and adjusts its functionality and behavior for screen-reader users and individuals with motor impairments.

If you come across any malfunctions or have suggestions for improvement, we welcome your feedback. Please contact the website's operators at the following email address: [contactEmail].

Screen reader and keyboard navigation:

Our website has implemented the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique and other behavioral modifications to ensure that visitors using screen readers can effectively read, understand, and interact with the website. Upon entering the site, screen reader users are prompted to enter the Screen-Reader Profile, enabling them to browse and navigate the website seamlessly. Here are some important ways our website addresses screen reader requirements:

Screen-reader optimization:

We employ a background process that comprehensively learns the website's components, ensuring ongoing compliance even during updates. This process provides screen readers with meaningful data using ARIA attributes. For instance, we provide accurate form labels, descriptions for actionable icons (e.g., social media icons, search icons, cart icons), validation guidance for form inputs, and proper roles for elements like buttons, menus, and modal dialogues. Additionally, the background process scans all website images, generating accurate and meaningful descriptions using image-object-recognition-based ALT tags. It also extracts embedded text within images using optical character recognition (OCR) technology. Users can activate screen reader adjustments at any time by pressing the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Upon entering the website, screen reader users receive automatic announcements to enable the Screen-Reader mode.

Keyboard navigation optimization:

The background process enhances the website's HTML and adds JavaScript code to enable keyboard operability. This includes features such as navigating the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operating dropdown menus with arrow keys, closing them with Esc, triggering buttons and links using the Enter key, navigating between radio buttons and checkboxes with arrow keys, and filling them in with the Spacebar or Enter key. Keyboard users can access quick navigation and content-skip menus at any time by pressing Alt+1 or by finding them as the first elements while navigating using the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by focusing the keyboard on them when they appear, preventing the focus from drifting outside.

Our adjustments are compatible with popular screen readers like JAWS and NVDA.

Disability profiles supported on our website:

Our website provides various disability profiles to support individuals with specific accessibility needs:

  • Epilepsy Safe Mode: This profile eliminates the risk of seizures caused by flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
  • Visually Impaired Mode: This mode adjusts the website to accommodate users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and others.
  • Cognitive Disability Mode: This mode offers assistive options for users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, helping them focus on essential website elements.
  • ADHD-Friendly Mode: This mode assists users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders in reading, browsing, and maintaining focus on the main website elements while reducing distractions.
  • Blindness Mode: This mode ensures compatibility with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack, which are essential software for blind users.
  • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): This profile enables individuals with motor impairments to navigate the website using keyboard keys like Tab, Shift+Tab, and Enter. Users can also utilize shortcuts like "M" for menus, "H" for headings, "F" for forms, "B" for buttons, and "G" for graphics to jump to specific elements.

Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments:

We offer several UI, design, and readability adjustments to enhance the user experience for all visitors:

  • Font adjustments: Users can modify the font size, family (type), spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
  • Color adjustments: Users can select different color contrast profiles (light, dark, inverted, monochrome) and swap color schemes for titles, texts, and backgrounds using over seven different coloring options.
  • Animations: Epileptic users can stop all animations, including videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions, with a single click.
  • Content highlighting: Users can emphasize important elements such as links and titles or choose to highlight only focused or hovered elements.
  • Audio muting: Users with hearing devices can instantly mute the entire website to avoid headaches or other issues caused by automatic audio playback.
  • Cognitive disorders: We utilize a search engine linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing users with cognitive disorders to decipher the meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and other content.
  • Additional functions: We provide users with options to change cursor color and size, activate a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and access many other features.

Browser and assistive technology compatibility:

We strive to support a wide range of browsers and assistive technologies, allowing users to choose the tools that best suit their needs. Our website has been extensively tested and works well on major systems, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, and Microsoft Edge. We ensure compatibility with screen readers like JAWS and NVDA, both for Windows and MAC users.

Notes, comments, and feedback:

While we have made significant efforts to make our website accessible to everyone, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible or lack adequate technological solutions. We are continuously improving our accessibility features, incorporating new technologies, and working towards achieving the optimal level of accessibility. If you require assistance or have any feedback, please contact us at [contactEmail].

Tag » Why Are Aye Ayes Endangered