VIVE LEMURS – Conserving the Lemurs of Madagascar (WWF – 2013)

7/27/2019 VIVE LEMURS Conserving the Lemurs of Madagascar (WWF 2013)

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WWF is one of the worlds largest and most experienced independentconservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a globalnetwork active in more than 100 countries.

WWFs mission is to stop the degradation of the planets naturalenvironment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony

with nature, by: conserving the worlds biological diversity, ensuringthat the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, andpromoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Written and designed by Christian Thompson (the green room)www.greenroomenvironmental.com, with advisory byMartina Lippuner, WWF Madagascar & Western Indian Ocean

Published in June 2013 by WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature(Formerly World Wildlife Fund). Any reproduction in full or in partmust mention the title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as thecopyright owner.

Text 2013 WWFAll rights reserved

Front coverThe endangered Indri lemur (Indri indri) in the Palmarium Reserve(Ankanin ny Nofy), east coast of Madagascar Andrea Schieber


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ContentsMap of Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean 04

Foreword 07Preface 09

A persecuted primate 10

50 years of WWF in Madagascar 13

Lifeline timeline 14

Executive summary 19

Introduction 21

Madagascar: Treasure island 21

WWF priority landscapes 25

Land lemurs 28

Lemurs on the brink 32 6.Trouble in the trees: Threats to lemurs 46

Vive lemurs: Furture-making in Madagascar 48

Appendix 1. 50

References 52

MarkusFleute

Rainforest, Masoala National Park, Madagascar


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MADAGASCAR & WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN


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WWF-MWIOPO

WWF Oces

Rainforest ecoregion

Ala Maiky ecoregion

Marine ecoregionPriority landscapes


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There are more than 100 species and subspecies of lemur. This species (Varecia sp.) displays strikingly bright blue eyes

RuanKendall


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Guy Suzon Ramangason

They are a major source of livelihoods, enabling a rich base for high value agriculture, and providingspectacular landscapes for sustainable tourism. Clearly, preserving the Malagasy ecosystem is criticalnot only for the sake of their beauty, but also for ensuring the ecological and economic security ofMadagascar and the rest of the region.

The countrys ecosystems also provide vital protection for all of the worlds lemurs. Madagascaris home to a quarter of all primate species on Earth, spanning some 5 families and more than 100different species and subspecies. These species are found nowhere else on Earth, so it is concerningto know that more lemurs are endangered now than at any previous point and they continue to faceunprecedented threats. It is sad to note that a combination of human pressures: excessive hunting

and international wildlife trade, habitat destruction, particularly deforestation and degradation, andinfrastructure development, is quickly eroding populations of these extraordinary and charismaticspecies.

Today, we are faced with mounting environmental challenges. Thankfully, WWF has been active onthe island since 1963, working with local communities to protect Madagascars unique environment,mitigate adverse impacts and prevent the lemur populace falling victim to the rapid pace ofunsustainable human development.

With their global network and solutions-based approach, WWF is positioned to bring about thechange that is required at all levels to build a sustainable future in Madagascar. But they cant doit alone.

Successfully placing the region on a sustainable development path will require the commitment andthe increased capacity of governments and industry alike to protect and sustainably manage one ofthe worlds most outstanding forest, freshwater and marine landscapes.

Protected areas are one of the most effective tools for conserving species and natural habitats ofMadagascar and safeguarding these habitats from long-term global threats such as climate change.They also contribute to the livelihoods and well-being of local communities and bring benets tosociety at large.

Our engagement with WWF comes to reinforce the Malagasy declaration at the 5th world conventionof the parks in Durban in 2003, where our country committed to triple the surface of its protectedareas from 1.7 million to at least 6 million hectares. Today this has become a reality. Thanks to theDurban Vision, a national network of 47 terrestrial and marine protected areas have beeninaugurated. More than 90 additional new protected areas have been created by other conservationgroups including WWF.

Partnerships like the one with WWF are crucial for conserving Madagascars biodiversity. They areequally vital for our common ght against poverty and our efforts to help conserve the countrys

ecological resources that are essential for our successful development. Poverty and the environmentare inextricably linked and the environment is the base for all human development.

With increased protection and management comes a viable future for the people and species such asthe magnicent and emblematic lemurs that live here.

I congratulate WWF on its commitment over the last 50 years to conserve the biodiversity and naturalresources of the region and extend to them my complete support for its efforts in helping the planet tocontinue enjoying the bounties of our country.

I hope the examples of WWFs work highlighted in this report will inspire you to join us in our ghtfor a living Madagascar.

ForewordFor centuries, the ecosystems of Madagascar have madeseveral vital economic and ecological contributions to

our lives. In addition to their pristine beauty, theyprovide forest cover, feed our perennial rivers that arethe source of our drinking water as well as provide

effective irrigation.

Guy Suzon RamangasonDirector General,

Madagascar NationalParks (MNP)

ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)


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Verreauxs Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) photographed at Berenty Private Reserve. Most groups live in the gallery forest and movement involves leapingbetween vertical trunks and bounding across open spaces on hind legs with arms aloft for balance: a beautiful natural ballet

Ian&KateBruce


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A persecuted primate and a agship

species for WWF in Madagascar for 50

years: the aye-aye

Scientic name: Daubentonia madagascariensisDistribution: Primarily on the east coast ofMadagascarIUCN status: Near Threatened

Unique and bizarre, the aye-aye (Daubentoniamadagascariensis) is the worlds largest nocturnalprimate, and is characterised by its unusual method ofnding food. It taps on trees to nd grubs, then gnawsholes in the wood using its forward slanting rodent-likeincisors. Once a small hole is created it uses its specialthin middle nger as a tool to extract invertebrates out.

The aye-aye is the only existing member of the genusDaubentonia and family Daubentoniidae; a secondspecies,Daubentonia robusta, appears to have becomeextinct at some point within the last 1,000 years.

Aye-ayes that live in the rainforest, the most commonkind, dwell in canopy areas, and are usually sighted upto of 700 metres altitude. They sleep during the day innests built in the forks of trees.

Ancient Malagasy legend said the Aye-aye was asymbol of death and the species is commonly thoughtto be bad omens by some Malagasy people. Whenspotted, they are killed on sight and hung up so that the

evil spirit will be carried away. Incidents of aye-ayekillings increase every year as its forest habitats aredestroyed and it is forced to raid plantations andvillages.


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FrankVassen

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Conserving the threatened aye-aye was the rst project WWF embarked upon in Madagascar in 1963


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WWF-M

WIOPO

say something

here...

Map of the aye-aye lemur reserve (circa 1962-63), Nosy Mangabe island, Madagascar


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50 years of WWFin Madagascar

Fifty years ago, WWF awarded its

14th project in the world. Aseemingly small grant in 1963, toresearchers and conservationistsactive in lemur conservation inMadagascar, ended up spawning arich legacy of conservation work overthe past half century.

WWF is proud to have been among the pioneers in lemur research and conservation.Since 1963, WWF has been instrumental in safeguarding lemurs. Our rst projectinvolved conserving the aye-aye, a nocturnal lemur whose numbers had become soprecarious that it was believed extinct in 1933, but it had been rediscovered in 1957 in

the northeast of the island. In 1963, WWF began funding the Ministry and Jean-JaquesPetter and colleagues for aye-aye research and conservation. Based on their initial work,the situation was deemed grave enough that drastic measures were required. Theemergency plan put in place involved setting aside the island of Nosy Mangabe, anisland near Maroantsetra off eastern Madagascar, and translocating breeding pairs ofaye-aye to the new reserve. Today, while the species remains near threatened, one of themost reliable places to nd the aye-aye is on Nosy Mangabe.

This was a crucial starting point for WWFs conservation efforts in Madagascar overthe past fty years. At the time, there were few Malagasy scientists, researchers orconservationists. One of the legacies WWF is most proud of is our contribution to thedevelopment of a signicant research and conservation capacity over the years, throughinitiatives such as the Ecological Training Programme (ETP). But there is still more tobe achieved across Madagascar. Many thousands of Malagasy have also participated inenvironmental activities through over 20 years of environmental education and ClubVintsy.

WWF has been instrumental over the years in many key national conservation efforts,from the development of the second National Environmental Action Plan in Africa tothe establishment of key parks and protected areas as well as the Madagascar NationalParks system (previously ANGAP). One of the founding members of the Foundation forProtected Areas and Biodiversity of Madagascar, we are proud to see that this is nowone of the largest and most successful biodiversity funds in the world. Beyond MNP,we have been active in the Madagascar Protected Area Strategy (SAPM), helping todevelop the scientically-based plans necessary to achieve the goal of the 2003 DurbanDeclaration of tripling the countrys protected area. In line with that vision, we havebeen helping to establish many of the new protected areas that are achieving that goal,

bringing the total protected area to over 6 million hectares over 10% of Madagascarsland mass.

On the ground, we are currently focused on conserving biodiversity in a number oflandscapes across Madagascars different ecoregions, all of which are home to variousspecies of lemurs. Of course we also support cross-cutting work in areas such as climatechange adaptation and mitigation, governance, fuel-wood and energy production,mining and extractive industries, forestry and sheries. Through these efforts, today weare working toward nding the practical solutions in these landscapes, which will allowhumans to exist in better harmony with nature.

The Prosimian Congress this year (www.prosimiancongress.org) is a perfect opportunityto reect back on 50 years of learning, of partnerships, of successes and failures. And tolook forward to see what we can achieve together in the years to come.

Richard HughesRegional Representative

WWF Madagascar &Western Indian Ocean

Programme

WWF-MWIOPO

Richard Hughes


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Lifeline timelineProject number 14 - A new hope for the aye-aye

A brief chronology of events surrounding the establishment of WWFsrst lemur project in Madagascar:

1962: Preliminary investigations began with a view of establishing reserves for aye-

aye, indris and other lemurs in Madagascar. A grant amounting to US$232was requested for the studies. It was suggested that a reserve of 140ha beestablished in a forest known as Ambatomalamo in the district of Fenerive,province of Tamatave. The delimitation will not be very difcult becausethe area is already marked off by roads on three sides. To mark the northern

boundary it will be necessary to cut a path, about two metres wide, throughthe forest. (NB.Such delimitation approach would be inconceivable today.

Delimitation of a reserve has progessed a long way and requires a longparticipatory process involving local communities and their fullendorsement).

Following a funding application made by the Service des Eaux et Forets inSeptember 1962, London-based law rm Oppenheimer Nathan and Vandyk,donate US$233 to the project.

A monitoring and evaluation review of the project is conducted by Jean-Jaques Petter, of the Musum national dHistoire naturelle (MNHN), Paris.He recognised that the reserve was too small and the size would certainly havedetrimental effects on the lemur populations. The research of October 1962also recognised the impact of the reserve on local communities, particularlythe strong superstitions surronding the aye-aye and the negative change in

village dynamics and behaviour the opening of a new reserve road had caused.He acknowledged that a long-term strategy that would take into accountsocio-economic aspects and trends was required. At that time, it was alsostressed that guard numbers and their salaries should be reinforced to protectthe reserve from foreign collectors (WWF continues to be a science-basedorganisation today).

The project was shortlisted in a competition for funding between 50 projects.

1964:

A special group called the Species Survival Commission (SSC) wasestablished by IUCN on 10 February 1964 to supervise the project. The groupis chaired by JJ Petter.

An application is made for Sfr 19,000 ( US$4,370) to WWF. As a result, in1965 and 1966, WWF US pay a contribution of SFr 19,000 per year to (i)translocate at least 2 pairs of aye-aye to Nosy Mangabe, a proposed perma-nent sanctuary for aye aye and (ii) undertake a brief fact nding survey of allMalagasy reserves with the view of assessing the long-term survival of the22 rare or threatened prosimians on the SSC list. Focusing on the Malagasygovernment, the project also aims to promote the importance of the uniquefauna of Madagascar and the necessity of ensuring its long-term conservation.The project aimed to establish strong local leadership for conservation thathas always been in WWFs DNA in Madagascar.

At the time, a major threat for aye aye was an extensive programme ofdeforestation undertaken by a wealthy timber merchant (related by marriageto the Hore-Belisha family in England).

July-August, letters of support for the aye-aye project are received from Pro-fesseur Jean Dorst, Mr Hettier de Boislambert (Grand chancellier de lordrede la liberation) gave his support to the project and Prof Bourlire (Facult deMdecine Paris).

December 30 1964. Aye-aye at the resrve of Ambato Malama that weredetected there in 1957 left the resrve as a result of the (i) construction of theroad , killing by population, (iii) development of villages along the road and(iv) legal felling of trees. The report mentioned a rapid erosion of taboo onaye aye. At the beginning of 1964, there were two aye-aye (one old female anda young male) in the village of Mahambo. 3 individuals were killed in 1963.Home range: about 5 ha including the village of Mahambo.

1965: In July, the MNHN announces it will fund the project for two years, extending

its funding to 1966. JJ Petter is asked to recruit a highly qualied person to be project implement-

er and Mr Peyrieras is recruited soon after. A decree (No 65- 795 du 14 December 1965) establishes Nosy Mangabe as a

special 520 ha reserve. The Service des Eaux et Forts starts work on establishing the reserve on the

the island.


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DianaBradshaw

The island Nosy Mangabe, a last stronghold for the threatened aye-aye lemur

1966: In his report on this date on 1 March 1966 JJ Petter talks about the

killing of aye-aye by villagers (at the entry of Bahafary forest, onekilled animal was hanged). Petter also mentions the rapid and wide-spread forest re that probably left no chance for aye aye to survive.

1 March 1966, Petter sends a letter to Mr Swift WWF US informinghim that 4 other species exist on the Mangabe island:Lemur vari-egatus, Lemur maccaco, Cheirogaleus major, Microcebus murinus.

IUCN Bulletin April/June 1966. This bulletin mentioned that aye-ayeis the rarest and most threatened mammal in the world due to wide-spread habitat destruction. It mentioned that there are only 12- 20individuals in the wild and it is the only species in the Daubentoni-

dae family. 28 April 1966 , WWF projects include establishing the Ambato

Malamo (140 ha) reserve, transfering of aye-aye to Nosy Managabe(1966 or 1967) SFr 40,000, sifaka project that will enhance theconservation of sifaka at Tsimanampetsotse , Tsingy de Namoroka,conservation and study of black-and-white maki (Lemur variega-tus) andIndri indriat Prinet Sfr 80,000, and Sfr 82,000. for the

biological study ofAvahi laniger andLepilemur mustelinus at thereserve of Ankarafantsika.

On 25 August, Mr Vollmar (SG of WWF) congratulates Mr Petter forthe success of the project and for a report that mentions the necessityfor Mr Peyrerias to pursue his work on aye-aye. Mr Vollmar asks MrPetter to submit a new proposal for a new project for 1967 or 1967-68

On 22 December 1966, Mr Peyrerias succeeds in capturing at least 5couples of aye-aye.

WWF report by Paul Schauenberg. Range of the aye-aye species:between Antalaha and Mananjary. The species was spotted inAnkarafantsika in 1914. According to legend: it is dangerous to sleepin the forest. If an aye-aye comes and slipped a pillow under theperson, this is a good omen that will bring fortunes. If the pillow isput under the persons feet, this is a very bad omen that will lead tothe persons death shortly. And if the gods protect him, he will be en-sorcelled ! The rst captured aye-aye on display in a zoo was in 1862(in London Zoo) others were brought to Berlin, Cologne, Amsterdamand Paris. The last export took place in 1931 where a couple weresent to London Zoo. No reproduction took place in captivity and thelongest life span recorded in captivity was 9 years. The report talkedabout the happy collaboration between the MNHN and WWF.

1967 IUCN Bulletin July/Sept 1967. The report said that a eld visit in

1957 detected aye-aye in a patch of forest in Mahambo. In just 7years, aye aye are gone from this reserve of Ambato Malamo. Thanksto WWF support, an aye aye reserve was established. However by1963, due to increasing human population and the construction

of the Tamatave road, the reserve was disturbed and the aye ayechased beyond the reserve. It appeared that the reserve of Mahambowas not sustainable due to human encroachment and disturbances.

Following the success of the Nosy Mangabe aye-aye project, Petteris thinking of transfering other speciesIndri indri, Propithecusdiademaand, Avahi laniger. A report by JJ Petter mentioning a lm,plantation of coco and banana trees on the island of Nosy Mangabe,erection of simple building on the beach , purchase of a boat (Bos-ton Whaler) to ease the travel to the island and facilitate the controland monitoring.

1968 On March 6th 1968, 9 aye-aye have been collected and transferred to

the island of Nosy Mangabe. The animals seem to be in good healthand a lm was produced. Coco and banana trees were planted on theisland to increase food availability.

At the entry of the village of Maroantsetra, a cage was erected for therst in-situ research on a couple of aye-aye.

A small house was built on the beach to host a museum and perma-nent exhibition on aye-aye.

A good analysis of the situation: the main direct threats are habitatdestruction through exotic plantation and uncontrolled felling and

burning to open up new areas for cultivation and to accommodatethe ever-increasing herds of domestic cattle. A driver that is men-tioned is the rapid increase in human population.


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MarkusFleute

Rainforest, Masoala National Park, Madagascar


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Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) crossing a track near Berenty Reserve in the spiny forest ecoregion of far south Madagascar

PeterM

anseld


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EXECUTIVESUMMARY

The globally unique landscape of Madagascaron the edge of the West Indian Ocean is hometo 5% of the worlds plant and animal species,of which 90% are endemic to Madagascar.More primates can be found here thananywhere else in the world.These include theextraordinary lemurs.

Little is known about many of the regions lemurs, many for example are only just beingdiscovered now. More than a hundred species are now know to scientists makingMadagascar the highest priority for primate conservation today, so signicant thatscientists have named the island the eighth continent. The lemurs vary in species andstatus: from pocket-sized mouse lemurs that can easily t in the palm of a hand, to

culturally signicant species; from bizarre dancing lemurs to other that have evolvedunique abilities to catch prey. Others still, are so seldom seen that they have taken onmythical status. What is known, are that their futures are uncertain.

Many of the lemur species are endangered. A combination of human pressures:hunting and international wildlife trade, habitat destruction, particularly deforestationand degradation, and infrastructure development, is quickly eroding populations ofthese extraordinary species.

The clock is ticking: over a 50 year period Madagascar lost 40% of its forest cover.

Losing the biological, economical and cultural benets derived from these species, theirfurther decline would also deal a serious blow to communities. As ambassadors of theMadagacar region, vulnerable to pressure and changes in the environment, the status

of the lemur species is one indicator of the health and ecological integrity of the entireisland. The well-being of these species is therefore closely linked to the sustainablemanagement of the region and to limiting the environmental impacts of increasedeconomic activity. Any impact on the ecological balance of the environment alsothreatens the sustainability of the resources that support 20 million people.

In its 50th year of working in Madagascar, WWF encourages others to join us insupporting the government to commit to an overarching green economy. Key steps thatcould be taken to create these enabling conditions include: Prioritizing government investment and spending in areas that stimulate the greeningof economic sectors as opposed to depleting our natural capital; and Investing in capacity building and training; and Establishing sound regulatory frameworks;

In addition, underpinning these regional efforts to encourage and maintain a healthyand sustainable population of the species presented in this report, WWF aims to workclosely with governments and key partners to:

Restore focal species populations to forests where they were once abundant; Recover focal species populations where populations still exist; and Reconnect and protect forest habitat to ensure focal species populations increase. Thiscan be achieved through international countries fostering greater sustainable forestry,alternative forest uses and sustainable livelihoods. This will alleviate further pressure onremaining populations of the regions unique lemurs.

ThomasHahn

Vive lemurs! Conserving the lemurs of Madagascar 19

The Sahamalaza sportive lemur(Lepilemur sahamalazensis)


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Liophidium pattoni, a new snake species discovered within the newly created Makira National Park, province of Mahajanga,in the North East of Madagascar. The species was also later encountered in Masoala National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sebastian

Gehring


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Introduction:Madagascar

treasure island

Geography

Madagascar is the oldest island and the fourth largestin the world; at 587,000 km2 it is comparable to thesize of France and is home to 22 million people. NeitherAfrican, nor AsianI, but genetically evenly balancedbetween the two, Madagascar separated from theAfrican continent some 165 million years and from theIndian subcontinent 80 to 100 million years ago. Thislong isolation from neighbouring landmasses hasallowed a unique array of plants and animals to evolve,including hundreds of endemicsII. These characteristicshave led some scientists to dub Madagascar the eighthcontinent2.

The region boasts four ecoregions, critical landscapes of international biologicalimportance. The eastern part of the island is covered by a narrow band of tropicalrainforests that lead to steep hills and central highlands, with volcanic mountains risingto the north in the Tsaratanana Massif. The northwest coast forms a series of naturalcoves and two thirds of the countrys islands, with broad plains inland, while thesouthwest region consists of tropical dry forests, plateaus and deserts. Because of theislands localised red soils, Madagascar has also been called the Great Red Island.

Biodiversity bounty

Madagascar is one of the greatest tropical wildernesses left on Earth and has animpressive array of biodiversity, including a rich assemblage of mammals, birds,amphibians and shes. The globally unique landscape is home to 5% of the worlds plantand animal species3, of which 90% are endemic to Madagascar4.

The level of terrestrial endemism found in the region is unparalleled, particularly at thehigher taxonomic levels of families and genera. Thus, among higher plants andvertebrates, 25 families and nearly 500 genera are endemic5.

The wildlife of Madagascar includes aye-aye, radiated tortoises, spider tortoises, marineturtles, ying fox, fossa, fanaloka, vontsira, tenrec, snakes, chameleons, crocodiles andfrogs. More than 100 known species of lemur are found only on this island 6. The birdfauna includes some extraordinary bird species, such as the ground-rollers, cuckoo-rollers, and mesites, as well as seriously endangered species such as the Madagascarserpent-eagle (Eutriorchis astur, EN) and Madagascar sh-eagle (Haliaeetusvociferoides, CR), one of WWFs agship species. Of the estimated 14,000 plantsnative to Madagascar, 80% are found nowhere else in the world 7, including six speciesof baobab, or bottle tree.

The signicance of the ora and fauna of Madagascar is not only their diversity, but alsotheir remarkable endemism. The high level of species unique to Madagascar resultedfrom tens of millions of years of isolation from the African and Indian mainland andfrom people, who only arrived 2,000 years ago I. The islands have an astounding eightplant families, ve bird families, and ve primate families that live nowhere else onEarth. In addition, such is the uniqueness of the remarkable species and habitats onMadagascar that even today hundreds of new species continue to be newly discovered,having never before been encountered.

Using Borneo as a well-known benchmark for extraordinary tropical species endemism,Madagascar far-exceeds the Southeast Asian islands diversity.

I Settlement of Madagascar happened between 200 and 500 A.D, when seafarers from southeast Asia(probably from Borneo or the southern Celebes) arrived by boat. The Malagasy language shares some90% of its basic vocabulary with the Maanyan language from the region of the Barito River insouthern Borneo. Other recent evidence (Bob Dewar, unpublished) suggests people arrived 4000

years ago.II Endemic refers to a species that is exclusively native to a specic place and found nowhere else. Forexample, the kiwi is a bird endemic to New Zealand.


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Furcifer timoni(male)

PatrickSchnecker


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Introduction

Table 1. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity richness

Diversity and Endemism

Taxonomic Group Species Endemic Species Percent Endemism

Plants 13,000 11,600 89

Mammals 155 14 92

Birds 310 181 58

Reptiles 384 367 95

Amphibians 235 229 99

Freshwater sh 164 97 59

Invertebrates 5,800 4,988 86

Table 2. Madagascar vs Borneo How they compare...

Endemic Species

Taxonomic Group Madagascar Borneo

Plants 11,600 7,000

Mammals 144 44

Birds 181 39

Reptiles 367 88

Amphibians 229 100

Freshwater sh 97 160


Sources: Conservation International, 2000.Ecosystem Prole: Madagascar Ecosystem of the Madagascar &Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot; Goodman, SM. and Benstead, JP. (Eds.). 2003. The Natural Historyof Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; Andreone F. (Editor), 2008.A Conservation Strategy forthe Amphibians of Madagascar - Monograe XLV. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino.

Note: All gures are estimates.


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Beach on Nosy Be Island, Madagascar

OlivierLandgrand/WW

F-Canon

24 Vive lemurs! Conserving the lemurs of Madagascar


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WWF prioritylandscapes:

Together with its partners, WWF seeks the sustainable management of Madagascarsunique forest, freshwater and marine resources so that biodiversity is conserved,ecosystem functions and services are maintained, the impacts of climate change are

mitigated, and sustainable development and economic growth improve the livelihoods ofthe people of Madagascar.

Successfully placing the region on a sustainable development path will require the com-mitment and the increased capacity of governments, industry and local communities aliketo protect and sustainably manage one of the worlds most outstanding forest, freshwaterand marine landscapes.

With protection and management comes a viable future for the people and species that livehere.

WWF priority landscapes:

We are focusing our efforts and resources on the following key landscapes:

- Northern Mozambique Channel Conservation Area (regional seascape)

The northern Mozambique Channel is one of the worlds globally outstanding marine biodiversity ar-eas and serves as a biological reservoir for the entire coastal East African region. Endemism is markedand overall reef diversity is second only to the Coral Triangle, with an estimated 450 coral species.The oceanographic mechanisms that have created the Coral Triangle are strongly paralleled in ourseascape. Owing to its consequent high productivity, it is one of the most important breeding andforaging areas for WWFs agship marine cetaceans and turtles as well as footprint-impactedhumphead wrasse, sharks, tuna and billsh.

- Manombolo-Tsiribihina (Morondava)The Manambolo Tsiribihina landscape stands for approximately 70,000 ha of mangroves whichare home to various endemic species listed in the IUCN red list such as the Madagascar sh eagle

(Haliaeetus vociferoides, CR , and only 20 couples remaining), Madagascar sacred ibis (Threskiornisbernieri, EN), Humblots heron (Ardea humbloti, EN), and the Berniers teal (Anas bernieri, EN).The mangroves are contained in the Manambolomaty and Menabe- Antimena protected areas, bothof which have temporary protection status. The mangrove ecosystems have important ecologicalfunctions and act as a production site for aquatic resources such as crabs, shrimps and sh: more thantwenty species of sh, including four endemic species.

- Fandriana Vondrozo Forest Corridor (COFAV)

The COFAV is a group of lowland, medium altitude and high mountain moist forests. It is a uniquehabitat including a high endemism center and its forest residues are composed of a great number ofendemic plants (Dalbergia baronii, VU). The succession of forests allows the circulation of the geneow, an essential feature for the long term survival of the species; it goes in two directions, along thecorridor and following the altitude. Forests form at 100% unique habitats for agship primates andreptiles such as the: Golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus, EN), Greater bamboo lemur(Prolemur simus, CR),Eulemur albocolaris andMatoatoa spanrinngi.

For centuries, the ecosystems of Madagascarhave made Madagascar is deemed byconservationists to be one of the top ve mostthreatened hotspots on Earth because of itsunique biodiversity and the pressure it faces froma combination of increasing threats.

WWF has been active on the island for 50 years,working with government, private sector, NGOsand local communities to protect Madagascarsunique biodiversity.



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- Mahafaly Land and Seascape (South of Toliara)The Mahafaly Plateau is a globally unique landscape, possessing the highest rates of oralendemism (95%) of any region in Madagascar. The Tertiary limestone plateau forms a karstlandscape traversed by a labyrinth of underground rivers, dotted with caves and sinkholes andhome to the endemic blind sh (Typhleotris madagascariensis, EN). The Plateau hosts a rangeof locally endemic fauna, including several reptiles, the bird species the Red-shouldered Vanga(Calicalicus rufocarpalis, VU) and the Giant-striped Mongoose (Galidictis grandidieri, EN), as

well as the charismatic lemurs (Propithecus verreauxi, VU), and Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta,NT). The landscape is also the last stronghold of the Critically Endangered tortoise (Astrochelysradiata, CR).

- Fiherenana-Manombo (North of Toliara)Spanning two river systems, the diverse habitats of the Fiherenana-Manombo landscape, whichinclude distinct spiny thickets on limestone and red sand substrates, gallery forest and deciduousdry forest in the valleys and regionally important wetlands, support the highest bird, mammal and

reptile diversity of any landscape in southern Madagascar. Key species include Subdesert Mesite(Monias benschi, VU), and Long-tailed Ground-roller (Uratelornis chimaera, VU), two locally-endemic, monotypic bird genera belonging to endemic families, the little-known carnivore

Mungotictis decemlineata lineata (known from only two specimens), and a range of locally-endemic reptiles.

- Mandrare River Basin (Fort Dauphin)In the extreme South of Madagascar, the Mandrare River Basin is a unique assemblage of humidforests and spiny/succulent bushes. Transition forests from humid to dry, along with the galleryforest are home to highly range-restricted species, while the humid forests host some ofMadagascars endangered lemurs such as Rusty-gray Lesser Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemurmeridionalis, VU), and Collared Brown Lemur (Eulemur collaris, VU). The spiny thickets ofSouthern Madagascar are home to the emblematicLemur catta and 90% of its plant species areendemic includingAloe suzannae (CR) andAloe helenae (CR), of which only a few individualsare still found in the wild.

- Saya de Malha

Far from any shore, the submerged Saya de Malha Banks in the southwest Indian Ocean are hometo what is believed to be the largest contiguous seagrass meadow in the world (40,000 km2), with8090 % of shallow surfaces being covered by seagrasses dominated almost exclusively byThalassondendron ciliatum at depths up to 3040 m, with additional records ofHalophiladecipiens (LC) andEnhalus acoroides (LC). The shallow water marine ecosystem on Saya deMalha Banks provides feeding habitats for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas, EN), as well as

breeding grounds for blue whales,Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda, known as the pygmy bluewhale and resident in the Western Indian Ocean.

- Northern HighlandsThe Northern Highlands include one of the largest blocks of humid forests in Madagascar. In theeast it includes the Marojejy National Park and Anjanaharibe-Sud special reserve and extends

westwards to the Sambirano forests in the northwest of the island near Ambanja. One of the moststriking features of this landscape is its diversity of reptiles and amphibians, with perhaps as many

as half of all Malagasy species occurring here. It is a global centre of reptile and amphibiandiversity and endemism. It is also the home of the ancient plant, Takhtajania perrieri(EN) andthe charismatic lemur, the Silky Sifaka (Propithecus candidus, CR), a WWF agship species.


Introduction


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Petters sportive lemur (Lepilemur petteri)

Le

slieFlint


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MarkusFleute

The eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus), Marojejy National Park, Madagascar.


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KennethShaw


Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)

The global importance ofMadagascars lemurs

According to renownedprimatologist, herpetologist andbiological anthropologist RussellA. Mittermeier in The EighthContinent, although Madagascaris only one of 92 countries withwild primate populations, it is aloneresponsible for 21 percent (14 of 65)

of all primate genera and 36 percent(ve of 14) of all primate families,making it the single highest priorityfor primate conservation.Madagascar is so important forprimates that primatologists dividethe world into four major regions:the whole of South and CentralAmerica, all of southern andsoutheast Asia, mainland Africa,and Madagascar, which ranks as afull-edged region all by itself.

Source: Tyson, Peter and Russell

A. Mittermeier. The EighthContinent: Life, Death, and

Discovery in the Lost World ofMadagascar. Morrow, William &Co, 2000.


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Lemurs onthe brinkHowever, with so many unique species of lemur creeping towards the extinction abyss, it isan impossible task to present the plight of all of them individually in this report(although all are deserving). Instead, we have focused attention on a small number ofspecies that best represent and capture the full diversity of lemurs in the region (Table3). The chosen species feature the most charismatic, unique, compelling, and obscurecharacters among Madagascars lemurs. At least one species from each of the ve families

is highlighted.

Collectively, all lemurs face the same threats and all species currently share the sameuncertain future.

V Note: This list has been generated by WWF to highlight the extraordinary diversity among lemur

species (across 5 different families). The list may vary from those of other organisations and shouldnot be treated as a priority list of species to focus conservation efforts on.


The number of lemur species and subspecies hasexploded from 38 in 1931 to 101 in 2010. Thisphenomenon is a truly incredible story and anexcellent rationale for continued support ofconservation activities in Madagascar.Conserving the islands forests is necessarybecause there is still so much we do not knowabout lemurs and still so much to be discovered.

Table 3. Captivating charactersV

Latin Name Common Name

Family Daubentoniidae

Daubentonia madagascariensis Aye-aye

Family Indriidae

Indri indri Indri

Propithecus candidus Silky sifaka

Propithecus verreauxi Verreauxs sifaka

Family Lemuridae

Lemur catta Ring-tailed lemur

Prolemur simus Greater bamboo lemur

Varecia variegata Black-and-white ruffed lemur

Hapalemur alaotrensis Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur/BandroFamily Lepilemuridae

Lepilemur petteri Petters sportive lemur

Lepilemur leucopus White-footed sportive lemur

Family Cheirogaliidae

Microcebus berthae Madame Berthes mouse lemur

Microcebus rufus Brown mouse lemur


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RachelKramer/NationalWildlifeFederationInternational

Silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus)

Lemurs on the brink


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Indri(Indri indri)

The indri was oncerevered and protectedby legend

The indri also called thebabakoto, is the largestliving lemur. It is a diurnaltree-dweller related to thesifakas. The indri practiceslong-term monogamy,

seeking a new partner onlyafter the death of a mate.The species is well knownfor its loud, distinctive

songs, which can last from45 seconds to more than 3minutes.

The indri is revered andprotected by fady (taboos).There are countlessvariations on the legendof the indris origins, butthey all treat it as a sacredanimal, not to be hunted orharmed.

Prosimiansin peril:the species*

The indri is an endangeredspecies. The primarythreats to its existence arehabitat destruction andfragmentation due to slashand burn agriculture,fuelwood gathering, andlogging. This kind ofdestruction occurs even inprotected areas.

The species is also widelyhunted, despite the manyorigin myths andtraditional taboos whichhold it sacred. Culturalerosion and immigrationare partly to blame for thebreakdown of traditionalbeliefs. Indri meat is prizedas a delicacy in someregions.

Aye-aye(Daubentoniamadagascariensis)

See page 9.


Lemurs on the brink

*

Selected species.

Silky sifaka(Propithecus candidus)

One of The Worlds25 Most EndangeredPrimates

This iconic and charismaticspecies is one of ve lemurslisted as one of TheWorlds 25 MostEndangered Primatesevaluated as criticallyendangered of extinction byIUCN. The species has beenon the list all ve timessince its inception in 2000.

The silky sifaka, or

simpona, is a large lemurcharacterised by long,silky white fur. The namesifaka is a reference to acommon general alarmvocalization given bywestern dry forest sifakas inwhich they emit anexplosive, hiss-like shee-faak call several times insuccession. On the eastcoast, local residents referto the larger bodieddiademed sifaka as

simpona, a name which

LaszloBolgar

CatherineRouse

Distribution: Restrictedto the humid forest fromMarojejy to Makira in thenortheast.IUCN status: CriticallyEndangered

Distribution: Inhabits thelowland and montaneforests along the easterncoast of Madagascar,from the Rserve SpcialedAnjanaharibe-Sud in thenorth to the Mangoro Riverin the south.IUCN status: Endangered


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Verreauxs sifaka(Propithecus verreauxi)

Very charismaticsymbol of the spinyforest, well known forits dance

Verreauxs sifaka(Propithecus verreauxi),or the white sifaka, is amedium sized primate inone of the lemur families,

Indriidae. It can be foundin a variety of habitatsfrom rainforest to westernMadagascar dry deciduousforests and dry and spinyforests. The fur is thick andsilky and generally whitewith brown on the sides,top of the head, and on thearms. Like all sifakas, ithas a long tail that it usesas a balance when leapingfrom tree to tree. However,its body is so highly

adapted to an arborealexistence that on theground its only means oflocomotion is hopping.

Lemurs on the brink

refers to the speciessneeze-like zzuss alarmvocalizations. The callsare emitted in a variety ofstressful circumstancessuch as presence ofhumans, falling trees,terrestrial predators, andafter aggression betweengroup members. Thespecies name, candidus, isLatin for white, while thespecies name of thetaxonomic synonymsericeus is derived from

the Greek word for silk.The main threats tosimpona are hunting forbush meat and habitatdegradation. Illegal loggingof precious hardwoods,such as rosewood andebony, has become oneof the greatest threats tothe silky sifakas habitat,especially since the 2009Malagasy political crisis.Its two largest protected

areas, Masoala NationalPark and MarojejyNational Park, have beenthe hardest hit. Thedisturbance caused byselective logging increasesthe likelihood of forestres, helps invasive speciestake root, impairs habitat,and causes the loss ofgenetic diversity. In muchof its range the silky sifakais not found below 700 m(2,300 ft) in altitude,

possibly due to eitherhunting pressure or habitatpreference.

This species is WWFsagship species for thenorthern highlands.

The species lives in smalltroops which forage forfood.

Verreauxs sifaka arediurnal and arboreal, andengage in sunbathing withoutstretched arms andlegs. Verreauxs sifakamove through the treesby clinging and leapingbetween vertical supports.They are capable of makingremarkable leaps throughthe trees - distances of9-10m are not uncommon.On the ground, they hopbipedally. They live infamily groups, or troops,of 2-12, which may consistof one male and female, ormany males and femalestogether. Group andpopulation sex ratio can bemore or less skewedtoward males. Manygroups seem to be

effectively harem groupswith a single dominantmale unrelated withresident female(s). Theyhave a home range of assmall as 2.8ha, andalthough they areterritorial, it is the foodsource they will defendrather than the territorysboundaries, as oftenboundaries overlap.Females are dominant overmales, forming a

matriarchal society.There are many thingsunknown about Verreauxssifaka.

Ian&Ka

teBruce

Distribution: Smallspiny forest fragments ofSouth Madagascar, sifakaabundance appears to beinuenced by theproportion of large treesand by the abundance ofthe plant speciesAllouadia

procera, a key species ofthe spiny forest habitat.IUCN status: Vulnerable


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Ring-tailed lemur(Lemur catta)

A very famous symbolof Madagascar

The ring-tailed lemur(Lemur catta) is a largestrepsirrhine primate andthe most recognized lemurdue to its long, black andwhite ringed tail. It belongsto Lemuridae, one of velemur families, and is theonly member of the Lemurgenus. It is omnivorous

and the most terrestrial oflemurs. The animal isdiurnal, being activeexclusively in daylighthours.The ring-tailed lemuris highly social, living ingroups of up to 30individuals. It is also femaledominant, a trait commonamong lemurs. To keepwarm and reafrm socialbonds, groups will huddletogether. The ring-tailed

lemur will also sunbathe,sitting upright facing itsunderside, with its thinnerwhite fur towards the sun.To mark its territory, themales perform a uniquescent marking behaviorcalled spur marking andwill participate in stinkghts by impregnating theirtail with their scent andwafting it at opponents.As one of the most vocalprimates, the ring-tailedlemur uses numerous

vocalisations includinggroup cohesion and alarmcalls. Experiments haveshown that the ring-tailedlemur, despite the lackof a large brain (relativeto simiiform primates),can organize sequences,understand basic arithmeticoperations andpreferentially select toolsbased on functionalqualities.

The ring-tailed lemur hasbeen listed since 1977 byCITES under AppendixI, which makes trade ofwild-caught specimensillegal. Although there aremore endangered species oflemur, the ring-tailed lemuris considered a agship spe-cies due to itsrecognisability.

Three factors threaten ring-tailed lemurs. First and

foremost is habitat destruc-tion. Starting nearly 2,000years ago with theintroduction of humansto the island, forests havebeen cleared to producepasture and agriculturalland. Extraction ofhardwoods for fuel andlumber, as well miningand overgrazing, have also

Lemurs on the brink

taken their toll. Today, itis estimated that 90% ofMadagascars originalforest cover has beenlost. Rising populationshave created even greaterdemand in the southwestportion of the island for fuelwood, charcoal, andlumber. Fires from theclearing of grasslands, aswell as slash-and-burnagriculture destroy forests.Another threat to thespecies is harvesting either

for food (bush meat) orpets. Finally, periodicdrought common tosouthern Madagascar canimpact populations alreadyin decline. In 1991 and1992, for example, a severedrought caused anabnormally high mortalityrate among infants andfemales at the BezaMahafaly Special Reserve.Two years later, thepopulation had declined by

31% and took nearly fouryears to start to recover.

The ring-tailed lemurresides in several protectedareas within its range.

Jerzy

KKulski


Distribution: Inhabitsgallery forests to spinyscrub in the southernregions of the island.IUCN status: NearThreatened


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Lemurs on the brink

Greater bamboo lemur

(Prolemur simus)

One of The Worlds25 Most EndangeredPrimates.

The greater bamboo lemur(Prolemur simus), alsoknown as the broad-nosedbamboo lemur and the

broad-nosed gentle lemur,is the largest bamboolemur, at over ve poundsor nearly 2.5 kilograms.It has greyish brown furand white ear tufts, andhas a head-body length ofaround one and a half feet,or forty to ftycentimetres. It feedsalmost exclusively on thebamboo species ofCathariostachysmadagascariensis,preferring the shoots butalso eating the pith andleaves. It is unknown how

their metabolism dealswith the cyanide found inthe shoots. The typicaldaily dose would beenough to kill humans.Greater bamboo lemursoccasionally consumefungi, owers, and fruit. Itsonly conrmed predator isthe fossa, but raptors are

also suspected.Greater bamboo lemurslive in groups of up to 28.Individuals are extremelygregarious. The speciesmay be the only lemur inwhich the male isdominant, although thisis not certain. Because oftheir social nature, greaterbamboo lemurs have atleast seven different calls.The greater bamboo lemur(Prolemur simus), is one of

the worlds most criticallyendangered primates,according to the IUCN Red

FreddyJ

ohansen

Greater bamboo lemur, Ranomafana National Park

List. Scientists believedthat it was extinct, but aremnant population wasdiscovered in 1986. Thehome range of the speciesis likewise drasticallyreduced. The current rangeis less than 4 per cent ofits historic distribution.Most of the former range is

no longer suitable habitatdue to this species dietaryspecialization on bambooand its microhabitatpreferences. The outlookis dire since areas withcritically low populationnumbers have no ofcialprotection, and compriseseverely degraded habitat.The species is endangeredby the following: slashand burn farming, mining,bamboo and other logging,

and slingshot hunting.

Population: The mostrecent total count is 60animals in the wild. Otherestimates suggest thepopulation may be as highas 100 and 160individuals left in the wild.Distribution: Currentrange is restricted tosoutheastern Madagascar.Some notable parts ofthe current range are theRanomafana and

Andringitra NationalParks.IUCN status:Critically Endangered



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Black-and-white rued lemur(Varecia variegata)

The black-and-white ruffed

lemur (Varecia variegata)is the more endangered ofthe two species of ruffedlemurs, both of which areendemic to the island ofMadagascar. Despite havinga larger range than the redruffed lemur, it has a muchsmaller population that isspread out, living in lowerpopulation densities andreproductively isolated. Italso has less coverage andprotection in large nationalparks than the red ruffedlemur.

Together with the redruffed lemur, they are thelargest extant membersof the family Lemuridae,

ranging in length from 100to 120 cm (3.3 to 3.9 ft) andweighing between 3.1 and4.1 kg (6.8 and 9.0 lb). Theyare arboreal, spendingmost of their time in thehigh canopy of the seasonalrainforests on the easternside of the island. They arealso diurnal, activeexclusively in daylighthours. Quadrupedallocomotion is preferredin the trees and on theground, and suspensory

behavior is seen duringfeeding. As the mostfrugivorous of lemurs, thediet consists mainly of fruit,although nectar and owersare also favored, followedby leaves and some seeds.

The black-and-white ruffedlemur has a complex socialstructure and is known forits loud, raucous calls. It isunusual in that it exhibitsseveral reproductive traits

typically found in small,nocturnal lemurs, such asa short gestation period,large litters and rapidmaturation.

The most frugivorous ofall the lemur species, theywill and often do feed on80 to 132 different plantspecies. Studies show thatmost of their feeding timeis spent on basic fruit whichconsumes around 80% of

that time.

Parenting in this species oflemurs is unique in that nosingle infant is invested inbut instead, females barelitters of multiple offspring.The black-and-white ruffed


Lemurs on the brink

lemur is preyed upon by theHensts goshawk(Accipiterhenstii), fossa(Cryptoprocta ferox), ring-tailed mongoose (Galidiaelegans) and brown-tailedmongoose (Salanoiaconcolor). Nesting behaviorposes the greatest risks forpredation, especiallymammalian predators.

ArthurC

hapman

Population: The generalpopulation is decreasingdramatically. Studies haveshown overtime that inthe last 27 years there has

been an 80% decrease inindividual black and whiteruffed lemurs. From the

Vasey studies of 2003 itwas shown that the mostdensely populated areaof black and white ruffed

lemurs was Nosy Mangabe.It had around 2943individuals/km2.Consequently came

Anatanamatazo with 1015individuals/km2, and thenManomba with.4-2.5individuals/km2.Distribution: The easternside of the islandIUCN status: CriticallyEndangered


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Lemurs on the brink

Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur

(Hapalemur alaotrensis)

The Lac Alaotra bamboolemur (Hapalemuralaotrensis), also knownas the Lac Alaotra gentle

lemur, Alaotran bamboolemur, Alaotran gentlelemur, or locally as thebandro, is a bamboolemur. It is endemic to thereed beds in and aroundLac Alaotra, in northeastMadagascar. This lemur isthe only primatespecically adapted to liv-ing in papyrus reeds. Un-like other bamboo lemurs,the Lac Alaotra bamboolemur does not eat

bamboo; instead, it feedson the stems of papyrusreeds, shoots of

Phragmites communis,and two types of grasses(Echinocochla crusgalliandLeersia hexandra).Its tail and body are both40 cm on average, and itweighs between 1.1 and1.4kg, with males slightlylarger than females. Itsdense, woolly fur is a gray

brown on the back, lightergray on the face and chest,and chestnut brown on thehead and neck. Theclassication of the bandrois disputed, with someclassifying it as asubspecies ofHapalemurgriseus, while others see itas a separate species.Current genetic data do

not support speciesstatus. Mitochondrial DNAsequences from the twopopulationsH. g. griseusandH. g. alaotrensis areinterspersed with eachother on the phylogenetictree. Moreover, averagegenetic distances betweenthe two subspecies arewithin the range of withintaxon comparisons and notin the range of between

DanielFernandez

Distribution: In andaround Lac Alaotra, innortheast MadagascarIUCN status:Critically Endangered

taxon comparisons. Anal assessment of speciesversus subspecies statusrequires lling in gaps insampling and the use ofnuclear loci. GenBank, theuniversal repository forgenetic sequenceinformation, has notaccepted the species statusof the Alaooatran lemur

and lists it as a subspecies.One of WWFs keypartners in Madagascar,Durrell WildlifeConservation Trust, has aLac Alaotra bamboo lemurconservation program.Find out more: http://www.durrell.org/conserva-tion/regions/madagascar/



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JoeShlabotnik

The Red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) is restricted to the forests of the Masoala Peninsula near Maroantsetra in northeastern Madagascar

Working across lemur island at all levels

to achieve lasting conservation results

WWF believes that the survival of the regionsthreatened lemurs and all of the other unique species

will be ensured by protecting their essential habitat.Our work concentrates on enlarging the geographicscale of lemur conservation from site-specicintervention to the protection, restoration andsustainable use of the larger habitat in which thespecies lives, breeds and disperses.

Priority landscapes of global biological and culturalimportance help WWF to dene and focus itsconservation efforts. We are concentrating on ten keyterrestrial and marine landscapes in Madagascar andthe Western Indian Ocean. These expansive areasoverlap with the major corridors of economic activityin the region. It is therefore of paramount importance

that these crucial environmental, economic andcultural arteries are developed and maintained in asustainable way.

By working as one team across these ecosystems inMadagascar, good lasting results are being achievedthrough a local to global approach, where eld workundertaken at community-grassroots level iscomplemented with policy initiatives at regional and atglobal levels. It is the goal of WWF to promote theconservation of biodiversity and sustainablemanagement of Madagascar for the benet of localcommunities and the region as a whole.


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Petters sportive lemur(Lepilemur petteri)

Their fur is grey brown orreddish colored on the topand whitish yellowunderneath. They typicallyhave a short head withlarge, round ears. Theygrow to a length of 30to 35 cm (with a tail justabout as long as their body)and weigh up to 0.9 kg.Their eyes have a tapetumlucidum behind the retina,hence they have eyeshine.

Sportive lemurs are strictlynocturnal andpredominantly arboreal,moving among the treeswith long jumps poweredby their strong hind legs.

On the ground, they hopsimilarly as the kangaroos.During the day they hide inthe leafy covering or treehollows. Sportive lemursare solitary but defendtheir territory vehementlyagainst same sex intruders.The territories of males andfemales can overlap.They are mainly herbivoresand their diet consistspredominantly of leaves.

It is one of the smaller

sportive lemurs with a totallength of about 49 to 54centimeters, of which 22-25centimeters are tail. Petterssportive lemur is found insouthwestern Madagascar,living in dry spiny forestsand some gallery forests.

Currently known from theBeza-Mahafaly region insouthwestern Madagascar,where thought to occursouth of the Onilahy River

and west of the Linta andMenarandra Rivers. Thenorthern extent of therange is unknown.Formerly, the sportivelemurs from the Beza-Mahafaly region werethought to beL. leucopus,and it remains unclear howthe distributions of thesetwo species relate to eachother.

The species is one of 15

new species ofLepilemurdescribed in 2006.

Lemurs on the brink

LeslieFlint


Population: There is noinformation on thepopulation status of thisspecies.Distribution:Southwestern MadagascarIUCN status:Data DecientThis family of lemurs is veryspecies rich and has grown

with the addition of many

new species described inrecent years.

Listed on CITES AppendixI. Present in the Beza-Mahafaly Special Reserve(Louis et al. 2006). Mayalso be the species presentin TsimanampetsotseNational Park. Furtherwork is now urgentlyneeded to clarify thedistribution and taxonomiclimits of the recentlydescribedLepilemurspecies.

This species is named after

JJ Petter, of the Musumnational dHistoirenaturelle (MNHN), Paris, asignicant gure in lemurconservation.


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Lemurs on the brink

Insertcredit

The smallest primate inthe world

The ofcial discovery of theBerthes Mouse Lemur(Microcebus berthae) in2000 was exciting news.The average body length is92 millimetres (3.6 in) andseasonal weight is around30 g (1.1 oz). The cutereddish-brown colouredcreature resembling one ofthe characters of theblockbuster lmMadagascar is not onlythe tiniest of the mouselemurs but also the smallestprimate in the world.An omnivorous diet, andused the same food sources,including sugaryhomopteran secretions,fruit, owers, gum,arthropods and small

vertebrates (e.g. geckos,chameleons).

Berthes Mouse Lemur(Microcebus berthae)


Population: TheMadame Berthes mouselemur population is sparseand spread out over a

widespread areaDistribution: There areunconrmedreports that the speciescan be found in KirindyMitea National Park inMadagascar, is also foundto inhabit the ReserveSpeciale dAndranomenaand the Menabe Antimenanew protected areasupported by Fanamby,Durrell, WWF and theMEF. It is alsosuggested that they live in

Analabe.IUCN status: Endangered

This lemur is named afterthe conservationistMadame BertheRakotosamimanana ofMadagascar, the SecretaryGeneral of the GroupedEtudes et de Recherchedes Primates (GERP) fromits founding until her deathin 2005.


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Lemurs on the brink

Brown mouse lemur(Microcebus rufus)

The brown mouse lemur(Microcebus rufus) is a

small primate, and like theother mouse lemurs canonly be found on the islandof Madagascar. They areknown also as the rufousmouse lemur, easternrufous mouse lemur, redmouse lemur, or russetmouse lemur. Its dorsalside is brown or reddish-brown, while ventrally it isa whitish-grey.

It was originallyconsidered a subspecies ofthe gray mouse lemur(Microcebus murinus)until 1977, when it wasreclassied as a separatespecies.

The mouse lemurs areamong the shortest-livedof primates. The brownmouse lemur has a lifespanof 68 years in the wild,although it averages 12

years under human care. Itis a solitary and nocturnalcreature.

Up until recently, thegeographic range of

M. rufus was believed toextend throughoutMadagascars easternforests from Taolagnaro(= Fort Dauphin) in thesouth perhaps as far as theTsaratanana Massif andthe region of Daraina in

the north. However, recent

eld work and analyses ofmolecular data haveresulted in theidentication of severalnew species within thisdistribution, includingthe newly describedM.lehilahytsara,

M. mittermeieri,M. simmonsi, andM.jollyae (Louis et al. 2006).

Listed as Least Concern as

the species is widespreadand common, and thereare no major threats to thespecies. However, giventhe decline in availablehabitat across the range,the species is likely to beslowly declining.

For the present time, therange of this species istentatively consideredto include much of theeastern rainforest, at leastfrom Taolagnaro in thesouth to Tsaratanana inthe north. TheMicrocebusrecorded from Daraina iscurrently assigned to thisspecies pending furthertaxonomic investigation.Ranges from sea level to

2,000 m asl.M. rufus is reported tooccur in rain forests, andalso in secondary forestformations, bambooforests, old plantations andeven eucalyptus groves.They have also beenrecorded in the marsharound Lake Alaotra. Thisspecies sleeps in tree holesand leaf nests during theday, and has even been

observed to use old birdnests. Mating takes placein September and October,and 1-3 young are bornfollowing a two monthgestation period (seeMittermeier et al. 2008,and references therein).

Distribution: Can befound in rainforests inEastern Madagascar,and is widely distributedIUCN status: LeastConcern

SeanCrane



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Troublein the trees:threats to

lemurs

Increasingly, other land uses such as mining and larger scale agriculture, are emergingas drivers of forest conversion, as they are in much of the rest of Africa. Poverty and theenvironment are inextricably linked, with the environmental degradation in Madagascarthreatening the livelihoods of Madagascars 22 million inhabitants, who continue to facepoverty as a result.

Secondary threats are caused by subsistence agriculture, livestock grazing, and invasivespecies. Analysis of satellite imagery indicates that forest cover decreased by almost 40%from the 1950s to circa 2000, with a reduction in core forestVI of almost 80 per cent. Thisforest destruction and degradation threaten thousands of species with extinction19.

Experts now predict that Madagascar has already lost 90 per cent of its original forestcover20.

For the unique species of the island, loss of vital habitat is increasingly exacerbated byhunting. There is a growing body of evidence showing that wild animals in Madagascarare subject to locally high hunting pressure and illegal hunting of protected species isbecoming a major conservation issue.

Recent publicity in Madagascar associated with seizures of lemur and tortoise bushmeat,or arrests of people involved in the bushmeat trade, has brought unprecedentedattention to this issue21,22. A recent study of 1154 households in 12 communes in easternMadagascar found that people consume a wide range of wild species and 95% ofrespondents had eaten at least one protected species (and nearly 45% have eaten morethan 10)23. Since humans arrived in Madagascar, many of the islands largest terrestrial

vertebrates have gone extinct, a loss blamed at least in part on hunting24,25. If furtherextinctions are to be avoided, urgent action is needed to reduce hunting of protected

Madagascar has evolved remarkably diverseecosystems including lush tropical rainforests,mountain peaks, tropical dry forests, near-desertenvironments, mangrove forests, and coral reefs together supporting 5% of all plant and animalspecies known to man.

The habitats of Madagascar continue to faceever-growing threats, including small-scaleunsustainable resource extraction, andwidespread clearance of habitats, primarily forrewood and charcoal production. This loss islargely poverty-driven, as Madagascar is one ofthe worlds poorest countries, and the demand forfuelwood and slash-and-burn practices consume

the islands natural forests.

JonLucas

VI Greater than 1 km from the forest edge.


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species. The progress in setting up new protected areas in Madagascar, which is addinglarge areas of forest and wetland to the national reserve system, needs to be accompaniedby an urgent initiative to address hunting26.

Increased access to species has also exacerbated the international trade in Madagascarswildlife. Today, many animals and plants are threatened, with rosewood, tortoises,chameleons, geckos and snakes the most targeted by trafckers. Since 1995, only 4Malagasy chameleon species are permitted to be exported from Madagascar and thismoratorium is still in place today. Despite this, smugglers continue to out the law.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classied eight lemurs asCritically Endangered, 18 as Endangered, 15 as Vulnerable, four as Near Threatened, eightas Least Concern, 41 as Data Decient, and seven have yet to be evaluated. 5 lemurspecies are among the 25 most threatened primate in the world:Prolemur simus,

Propithecus candidus, Eulemur cinereiceps, Lepilemur septentrionalis, Eulemur

avifrons27

.All types of lemurs are protected by CITES, which makes it illegal to hunt or capturelemurs for trade. Today international economic forces, a growing global demand fornatural resources, and widespread regional poverty are putting the species, forests,freshwater and marine ecosystems of this globally outstanding region at risk.

Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 hectares of natural forest are cleared each year,mostly due to clearance for agriculture, cattle grazing and rewood, but poorly-plannedeconomic development projects and extensive mining are also responsible. The result isthat less than 10% of Madagascars original forest cover now remains 28.

Several factors have contributed to deforestation: rapid population growth, an increasingimpoverishment of the local population, its need to increase food production and a rising

demand for wood for domestic energy. For their domestic energy needs, more than 90% ofMalagasy households use rewood and charcoal. Also, there are logging requirements fortimber and construction. In the highlands, deep gashes caused by deforestation areleaving the land bare in many places. Local timber barons are also harvesting scarcespecies of rosewood and other precious wood trees and exporting the wood to China.The wood is used to make furniture and musical instruments. Most of the wood is beingremoved illegally from national parks in Madagascar and trade has reached the annualvalue of USD 220million29.

As Madagascars forests continue to be cut, all that remains is a red trail that runs downthe rivers into the sea. Soil erosion, which corresponds to the loss of topsoil, is leaving theland naked and unt for agriculture. Downstream, increased sediment loads are siltingestuaries and smothering sensitive marine habitats. As a result, marine species lose theirhome, and communities lose their source of income. And silted reefs are more vulnerable

to climate change.

These threats place an untold number species at risk of extinction not just the ones thathave been newly discovered, but symbolic and charismatic species for which Madagascaris known the world over. Many animals and plants are also threatened, with excessivehunting killing off the islands emblematic species, including the lemur. It is estimatedthat at least 60,000 tortoises are collected from the wild every year to feed the pet trade inSouth East Asia, Japan and Europe30. The freshwater shes of Madagascar are consideredthe islands most endangered vertebrates. An IUCN assessment of 98 endemic freshwatersh species found that 54% of the sh were either Critically Endangered, Endangered orVulnerable31.

Habitat degradation, siltation, temperature increases, agriculture and overshing areconsidered the main causes of species decline. Introduced sh species have alreadyreplaced many native species in inland lakes and streams. Trade for pets and plants havealso weakened populations of endemic animals and vegetation, especially amphibians,reptiles and succulent plants. According to WWF studies in North Eastern and WesternMadagascar, rosewood is now on the brink of local extinction because of increased andillegal exploitation.

Threats to lemurs


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Vive lemurs:future-making in

MadagascarWWFs work in Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean is organised under ve

programmes:

A terrestrial programme, which seeks the conservation of moist tropical forests in theeastern part of the island, and spiny, dry forests in the Southern and South Westernregions. Activities include biodiversity assessments, strategic plans for land tenuresecurity, tax strategies for conservation, restoration of ecological services and socio-economic values of the forest.

A marine programme which aims to improve marine management and conservationamong Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles and Reunion and coastal

African states including strengthening the network of marine protected areas. Thereare currently thirty marine protected areas in this region.

A footprint programme which aims to the environmental footprint of human beingsin important sectors such as energy, extractive industries, reduction of greenhousegas in particular CO2 - and traditional and industrial shing.

A sustainability programme, which is helping WWF full its Conservation Planthrough providing the right approaches and technical support (methodologies, tools,capacity building, environmental education, policy and advocacy) as well as buildingpartnerships with development and governmental agencies (Cub Vintsy is a jointinitiative between WWF and the Ministry of Education ), civil society and privatesector.

A conservation science and species programme which seeks to improve theknowledge of biodiversity in Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean and tointegrate the climate change issue in all conservation approaches. On speciesconservation, WWF works closely with the Ministry of Forest and Water whichimplements the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Floraand Fauna (CITES) at the national level. On the conservation science side, it ispromoting among conservationists, international standards and good practices on

programme and project management so as to ensure they meet their biodiversitygoals and objectives.

We have been here for 50 years and since there is a lot to do, we stay ascommitted as we always have been. Find out how you can help us takeaction for a living Madagascar:

www.wwf.mg

WWF has been active on the island for 50 years,

working with local communities to protectMadagascars unique environment.

Together with its partners, WWF seeks thesustainable management of Madagascars uniqueforest, freshwater and marine resources so thatbiodiversity is conserved, ecosystem functions andservices are maintained, the impacts of climatechange are mitigated, and sustainabledevelopment and economic growth improve thelivelihoods of the people of Madagascar.

Lets keep lemurs alive!

- Join WWF in the ghtagainst habitat loss andspecies decline: www.wwf.mg/- Dont buy rosewood fromMadagascar- Dont collect/buy exoticpets from Madagascar- Check www.wwf.mg forfrequent updates about ourconservation activities

- Visit Madagascar and itsunique biodiversity!


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List of lemur species and

subspecies* (continued...)

Scientic name

LepilemuridaeLepilemur aeeclisLepilemur ahmansonorumLepilemur ankaranensisLepilemur betsileoLepilemur dorsalisLepilemur edwardsiLepilemur euretaeLepilemur grewcockorumLepilemur hubbardorum

Lepilemur jamesorumLepilemur leucopusLepilemur microdonLepilemur milanoiiLepilemur mittermeieriLepilemur mustelinusLepilemur ottoLepilemur petteriLepilemur randrianasoloiLepilemur rucaudatusLepilemur sahamalazensisLepilemur scottorumLepilemur sealiLepilemur septentrionalisLepilemur tymerlachsonorumLepilemur wrightaeLepilemur hollandorum

Common name

Antaa sportive lemurAhmansons sportive lemurAnkarana sportive lemurBetsileo sportive lemurGray-backed sportive lemurMilne-Edwards sportive lemurFleuretes sportive lemurGrewcocks sportive lemurHubbards sportive lemur

James sportive lemurWhite-footed sportive lemurSmall-toothed sportive lemurDaraina sportive lemurMittermeiers sportive lemur

Weasel sportive lemurOttos sportive lemurPetters sportive lemurRandrianasolos sportive lemurRed-tailed sportive lemurSahamalaza sportive lemurScotts sportive lemurSeals sportive lemurNorthern sportive lemurHawks sportive lemur

Wrights sportive lemurHollands sportive lemur

IUCN status

Data DecientData DecientEndangeredData DecientData Decient

VulnerableData DecientData DecientData Decient

Data DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientData DecientCritically EndangeredData DecientData DecientNot Evaluated

Classied

2006, Andriaholinirina et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.1975, Rumpler & Albignac2006, Louis, Jr. et al.1870, Gray1894, Forsyth Major2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.

2006, Louis, Jr. et al.1894, Forsyth Major1894, Forsyth Major2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2006, Rabarivola et al.1851, I. Geoffroy2007, Craul et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2006, Andriaholinirina et al.1867, A. Grandidier2006, Andriaholinirina et al.2008, Lei et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.1975, Rumpler & Albignac2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2006, Louis, Jr. et al.2009, Ramaromilanto et al.

Scientic name

IndriidaeAvahi betsileoAvahi cleeseiAvahi lanigerAvahi meridionalisAvahi mooreorumAvahi occidentalisAvahi peyrierasiAvahi ramanantsoavaniAvahi unicolorIndri indriPropithecus candidusPropithecus coquereliPropithecus coronatus

Propithecus deckeniiPropithecus diademaPropithecus edwardsiPropithecus perrieriPropithecus tattersalliPropithecus verreauxi

Common name

Betsileo woolly lemurCleeses woolly lemurEastern woolly lemurSouthern woolly lemurMoores woolly lemur

Western woolly lemurPeyrieras woolly lemurRamanantsoavanas woolly lemurSambirano woolly lemurIndriSilky sifakaCoquerels sifakaCrowned sifaka

Von der Deckens sifakaDiademed sifakaMilne-Edwards sifakaPerriers sifakaGolden-crowned sifaka

Verreauxs sifaka

IUCN status

Data DecientEndangeredLeast ConcernData DecientNot EvaluatedEndangeredData DecientData DecientData DecientEndangeredCritically EndangeredEndangeredEndangered

VulnerableEndangeredEndangeredCritically EndangeredEndangered

Vulnerable

Classied

2007, Andriantompohavana et al.2005, Thalmann and Geissmann1788, Gmelin2006, Zaramody et al.2008, Lei et al.1898, von Lorenz-Liburnau2006, Zaramody et al.2006, Zaramody et al.2000, Thalmann and Geissmann1788, Gmelin1871, A. Grandidier1867, A. Grandidier1871, Milne-Edwards

1870, A. Grandidier1832, Bennett1871, A. Grandidier1931, Lavauden1988, Simons1867, A. Grandidier

Scientic name

DaobentoniidaeDaubentonia madagascariensis

Common name

Aye-aye

IUCN status

Near Threatened

Classied

1788, Gmelin



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1 Harper, G.J., Steininger, M.K., Tucker, C.J., Juhn, D. and F. Hawkins. 2007. Fifty years ofdeforestation and forest fragmentation in Madagascar.Environmental Conservation, accepted,

2007.2 Tyson, Peter and Russell A. Mittermeier. The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery inthe Lost World of Madagascar. Morrow, William & Co, 2000.3 WWF International. 2010.Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean Region.

www.madagascar.panda.org/wherewework/4 Hobbes & Dolan (2008), p. 5175 WWF Madgascar.Madagascar and the West Indian Ocean Region. Accessed: 29 May 20136 Mittermeier, R.A.; Louis, E.E.; Richardson, M.; Schwitzer, C.; Langrand, O.; Rylands, A.B.;Hawkins, F.; Rajaobelina, S.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Rasoloarison, R.; Roos, C.; Kappeler, P.M.;MacKinnon, J. (2010).Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (3rd ed.). ConservationInternational. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5.7 Callmander, Martin; et. al (2011). The endemic and non-endemic vascular ora of Madagascarupdated.Plant Ecology and Evolution 144 (2): 121125.8 Yoder, AD. 2007. Lemurs: a quick guide. Current Biology 17 (20): 866868.9 Groeneveld, LF. Weisrock, DW. Rasoloarison, RM. Yoder, AD. Kappeler, PM. 2009. Species

delimitation in lemurs: multiple genetic loci reveal low levels of species diversity in the genusCheirogaleus.BMC Evolutionary Biology 9 (30).10 Tattersall, I. 2007. Madagascars lemurs: Cryptic diversity or taxonomic ination?.

Evolutionary Anthropology 16: 1223.11 Mittermeier, R. Ganzhorn, J. Konstant, W. Glander, K. Tattersall, I. Groves, C. Rylands, A.;Hapke, A. et al. (2008). Lemur diversity in Madagascar.International Journal of Primatology 29(6): 16071656.12 Tattersall, I. 2007. Madagascars lemurs: Cryptic diversity or taxonomic ination?Evolutionary

Anthropology 16: 1223.13 Yoder, AD. 2007. Lemurs: a quick guide. Current Biology 17 (20): 866868.14 New Scientist. 2006. Gene analysis reveals lemurs true colours. 16 November.15 Sussman, RW. 2003.Primate Ecology and Social Structure. Pearson Custom Publishing.16 Mittermeier, RA. Konstant, WR. Hawkins, F. Louis, EE. Langrand, O. Ratsimbazafy, J.Rasoloarison, R. Ganzhorn, JU. et al. 2006.Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (2nded.). Conservation International.17 Gommery, D. Ramanivosoa, B. Tombomiadana-Raveloson, S. Randrianantenaina, H. Kerloch,

P. 2009. A new species of giant subfossil lemur from the North-West of Madagascar(Palaeopropithecus kelyus, Primates). Comptes Rendus Palevol3 (5): 471480.18 IUCN. 2010. Primates in Peril: The Worlds 25 Most Endangered Primates, 20082010.19 Harper, GJ. Steininger, MK. Tucker, CJ. Juhn, D. and Hawkins, F. 2007. Fifty years ofdeforestation and forest fragmentation in Madagascar.Environmental Conservation, 34: 325-333Cambridge University Press.20 Ibid.21 Barrett MA, Ratsimbazafy J (2009) Luxury bushmeat trade threatens lemur conservation.

Nature 461: 470470.22 Draper E (2010) The pierced heart of Madagascar. National Geographic 218: 80109.23 Jenkins RKB, Keane A, Rakotoarivelo AR, Rakotomboavonjy V, Randrianandrianina FH, et al.(2011) Analysis of Patterns of Bushmeat Consumption Reveals Extensive Exploitation of ProtectedSpecies in Eastern Madagascar.PLoS ONE6(12): e27570.24 Burney DA, Burney LP, Godfrey LR, Jungers WL, Goodman SM, et al. (2004) A chronology forlate prehistoric Madagascar.Journal of Human Evolution 47: 2563.25

Crowley BE (2010) A rened chronology of prehistoric Madagascar and the demise of themegafauna. Quaternary Science Reviews 29: 25912603.26 Jenkins RKB, Keane A, Rakotoarivelo AR, Rakotomboavonjy V, Randrianandrianina FH, et al.(2011) Analysis of Patterns of Bushmeat Consumption Reveals Extensive Exploitation of ProtectedSpecies in Eastern Madagascar.PLoS ONE6(12): e27570.27 IUCN. 2010.Primates in Peril: The Worlds 25 Most Endangered Primates, 20082010.28 Harper, GJ. Steininger, MK. Tucker, CJ. Juhn, D. and Hawkins, F. 2007. Fifty years ofdeforestation and forest fragmentation in Madagascar.Environmental Conservation, 34: 325-333Cambridge University Press.29 Randriamalala, H. and Liu, Z.Rosewood: Democracy & Conservation. MadagascarConservation & Development. Volume 5, Issue 1 - June 2 010. Madagascar Wildlife Conservation(MWC) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI Switzerland).30 Randriamahazo, H., Traylor-Holzer, K., Leus, K., and Byers, H.O. 2007.Population and habitatviability assessment workshop for endemic tortoise species in Madagascar Geochelone radiata(Madagascar radiated tortoise) Pyxis arachnodes (spider tortoise). Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSCConservation Breeding Specialist Group, 108 pp.31 IUCN and Species Survival Commission. 2004.Red List assessment of Madagascars

freshwater shes.


References


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36%of all primate families (ve

of 14) are found in Madagascar,

the land of lemurs and a

highest priority for primate

conservation

250,000 speciesMadagascar is home to 5% of the

world's plant and animal species

and most of them are endemic to

the island

100%RECYCLED

587,000 km2about the size of France,Madagascar is the worlds

fourth largest island

20 millioninhabitants, many of them

facing poverty. Despite its

rich biodiversity, Madagascar

remains one of the world's

Madagascar in numbers

VIVE LEMURS – Conserving the Lemurs of Madagascar (WWF – 2013)

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Transcript of VIVE LEMURS – Conserving the Lemurs of Madagascar (WWF – 2013)