The Story of the Lemur

STORY OF THE LEMUR HOW DID LEMURS GET TO MADAGASCAR? Lemurs arrived in Madagascar around 62 to 65 million years ago by rafting on mats of vegetation at a time when ocean currents favoured oceanic dispersal to the island. RANGE IN SIZE The Indri can reach 3.9ft with its legs extended, 9kg in weight and is the size of a female chimp. INDRI LEMUR MOUSE LEMUR In contrast, the Mouse Lemur is only around 90mm long, and weighs just 30g! Some extinct varieties weighed up 200KG to 200kg; that's more than a gorilla! FOCUS ON THE RINGTAIL The Ringtail is the national lemur of Madagascar, and the most recognisable due to its long striped tail. Highly sociable, they live in groups know as troops. 3. Found mainly in the south of Madagascar 4 Fruit makes up the greater part of the diet, but Ringtails also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark and sap. EXTINCT LEMURS 17 EXTINCT At least 17 extinct species of lemur and 8 genera have become extinct 103 SPECIES REMAIN in the 2,000 years since humans first arrived in Madagascar. 25% OF THESE ARE ENDANGERED Deforestation and hunting pose a major threat to the island's remaining lemur species CONSERVATION EFFORTS THIS IS A LEMUR FRIENDLY ZONE In 1927 the Malagasy government declared all lemurs as "protected" by establishing protected areas and National Parks. The presence of lemurs in National Parks helps drive ecotourism, which helps local communities and contributes funds to the maintenance of the reserves. FUN FACTS DID YOU KNOW? Lemurs are highly intelligent creatures. They're able to learn patterns and can even complete tasks that are too complex for apes and monkeys. WOW! Many Malagasy people believe that the Aye Aye lemur is evil and a symbol of death. In reality, it is just an antisocial, nocturnal creature that wants to be left alone! In July 2012 a new species of lemur was discovered. The species, thus far unnamed, was discovered by YOU FOUND ME! Peter Kappeler and his team from REALLY? the German Primate Center. SOURCES Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitors Guide Winner of The Sunday Times 'Small Publisher of the Year Award'. Forest Recovery Programs in Madagascar Globettrotter Travel Guide to Madagascar Derek Schuurman & Nivo Ravelojaona, 4th edition October 2011 The Madagascar Rosewood Massacre Derek Schuurman & Porter P Lowry |I (Madagascar Conservation & Development Journal) Toponyms for centers of endemism in Madagascar Lucienne Wilmé, Mamy Ravokatra, Rainer Dolch, Derek Schuurman, Eric Mathieu, Harald Schuetz, Patrick O. Waeber. Madagascar Conservation Development Journal With thanks to Derek Schuurman, Madagascar Travel Specialist & Expert RAINBOW TOURS www.rainbowtours.co.uk