Hapalemur griesus griesus is an endangered species and is placed in the Low Risk category in the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group's Lemurs of Madagascar: An Action Plan for their Conservation (Mittermeier et al., 1994) and the species is listed as an Appendix I species in CITES. According toMitchell (1997), 23 of the 32 remaining species of lemurs are imperiled. Exact population numbers are not known of the grey bamboo lemur. Pollock (1972, as cited by Wolfheim, 1983) estimated their density to be 47 to 62 individuals per square kilometer in the eastern rain forest.

These lemurs have become endangered because of the destruction of the rain forest. The land is being slashed and burned to create cropland, pasture, and used for firewood which has reduced the rain forest by half since 1950 (Jolly, 1988). However, Kolar (1992) stated that "extensive clearing of forest-generally a catastrophe for wildlife-has extended the habitat of the gentle lemurs" (49) because of the new growths of bamboo. Grey bamboo lemurs are also hunted for food and pets. They are also susceptible to predation. Because of this they have adapted behavioral mechanisms such as alarm calls as a strategy for themselves and other specific members to escape predation.

No conservation measures on the grey bamboo lemur have been put into effect in Madagascar other than a wide range survey (Harcourt and Thornback, 1990). In captivity, there are 35 lemurs of Hapalemur griesus griesus; two at Banham (Great Britain), 18 at Duke University Primate Center (USA), three at Ivoloina (Madagascar), two at the Philadelphia Zoo (USA), and ten at Tananariv (Madagascar) (ISIS). The first successful captive breeding was in the summer of 1991 at Duke University Primate Center.