Brown lemurs were first introduced to Berenty inadvertently during a cyclone in 1975. These were a group of about 8 pet red-fronted lemurs (E. fulvus rufus) originally brought from the west of Madagascar near Morondava. Later the de Heaulme family added 8 or 10 pets and orphaned brown lemurs from Fort Dauphin markets. They, however, were the red-collared subspecies from the rainforest near Fort Dauphin (E.f. collaris). The two subspecies are opposite ends of a horseshoe distribution of brown lemur varieties which stretch round the North of Madagascar. Some authorities consider them separate species. They have different numbers of chromosomes. They should not be able to hybridize, but they pay no attention to the authorities.