Madagascar

Our project in north-western Madagascar is based on the Sahamalaza Peninsula. Our field station in the Ankarafa Forest is within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Protected Area Sahamalaza - Iles Radama. This site was established by the Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens (AEECL) (LINK), a partnership of 30 European Zoos. As a long-time member, Bristol Zoological Society is actively involved in the conservation of lemurs and their habitat in this region, including the blue-eyed black lemur, the Sahamalaza sportive lemur and the Sambirano mouse lemur. These species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and hunting (LINK TO VIDEO?). Each year, we send post-graduate students (international and Malagasy) to conduct research on these species in an effort to better understand their behaviour and ecology, which enables us to work with local NGOs and the Malagasy government to create informed conservation management plans for these species and the region. In addition, our research scope includes bats, birds, reptiles and amphibians of Sahamalaza (LINK TO PUBS or PROJECTS list).

In addition to research, we are helping the local people save their natural heritage through development programmes and conservation education. This includes help with cultivation, reforestation, fire control and protection, schools, and the provision of drinking water.

We are also involved in the captive breeding programme for the blue-eyed black lemur. This programme aims to establish a self-sustaining captive population of the species which can serve both as a model population to study the lemurs’ biology, as well as a source of animals for possible future reintroduction projects. Bristol Zoological Society has undertaken research on the nutrient and energy requirements of captive blue-eyed black lemurs and other lemur species to optimise diets and learn more about their physiology and nutritional needs. This knowledge can in turn be used to inform conservation measures in the wild.

Interesting Facts about the Blue-Eyed Black Lemur (Eulemur flavifrons)

As their name suggests, they have striking blue eyes – one of two primates to routinely have this feature (the other is us!)

Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List based on an 80% population reduction during the last 25 years

Among the world’s rarest and most endangered primates BZS Director of Conservation, Dr Christoph Schwitzer, has studied the

behaviour and ecology of this species since 2003

Interesting Facts about the Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis)

Nocturnal species that likes to sleep in tall trees with large leafy crowns BZS scientist, Dr Melanie Seiler, found that these lemurs were not very

social, with limited interactions between individuals – suggesting that

they could be described as solitary rather than group-living – a rare pattern for primates

Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List based on an 80% population reduction during the last 25 years

Interesting Facts about the Sambirano Mouse Lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis)

Stay tuned! This species has not yet been studied, but BZS supervised Masters student, Daniel Hending, will begin his research on the vocal repertoire and behavioural ecology of these mouse lemurs in early 2015

In 2014, a previously unknown population of this species was discovered on the Sahamalaza Peninsula in the Anabohazo Forest

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN because their habitat is highly fragmented and forest loss continues – these small bodied primates (less than 50g) are unable to cross large gaps between forest fragments