The Alberta government keeps a list of controlled animals. These are animals that are either completely restricted, or only allowed under special circumstances with proper licensing and permissions.

The controlled animals document details every controlled animal, categorized by type and species.

Can I own a lemur or flying lemurs in Alberta?

Flying Lemurs are different than Lemurs, but we might as well answer both of these in the same place.

Lemurs and Flying Lemurs are both on Alberta’s controlled animals list.

You can not legally own a pet Lemur in Alberta.

You can not legally own a pet Flying Lemur in Alberta.

View the entire controlled animals list here

Lemurs illegal in Alberta

A lemur is a type of primate found mainly in Madagascar. Primates in general are controlled animals in Alberta, and across Canada.

All lemurs (Family lemuridae) are illegal to own in Alberta.

The Alberta Controlled animals regulation lists the following:

All Lemurs (Family lemuridae)

• Ring-tailed Lemurs; Lemur catta
• Gentle Lemurs; Hapalemur spp.
• Bamboo Lemurs; Hapalemur spp.
• Greater Bamboo Lemurs; Prolemur simus
• Variegated (Ruffed) Lemurs; Varecia spp.
• Brown Lemurs; Eulemur spp.

Here is a screenshot of the Alberta Controlled animals document showing that Lemurs are a controlled animal.

Flying Lemurs illegal in Alberta?

Flying lemurs, also known as colugos, are not true lemurs but are rather gliding mammals. That are native to Southeast Asia.

You can not have a pet Flying Lemur in Alberta as they are listed as a controlled animal.

The Controlled animal document lists the Flying Lemur in the following way:

All Flying Lemurs (Family Cynocephalidae)

• Flying Lemurs (colugos); genus cynocephalus

Here is a screenshot of the Alberta controlled animals list showing All Flying Lemurs are controlled.

In Summary

• Lemurs and Flying Lemurs are not the same thing
• Both are listed on the Alberta controlled animals regulation.
• You can not own a Lemur or Flying Lemur as a pet in Alberta.