Lemurs : Madagascar biodiversity icons

Friday 30 last October, we celebrated the world day of lemurs under the theme " lemurs and their habitats : a heritage to be preserved ». A well-deserved celebration for lemurs : Madagascar biodiversity icons.

A well-deserved day for our lemurs : Madagascar biodiversity icons

For six years now, World Lemur Day is celebrated every last Friday of October. And during the week, the world lemur festival is held in Madagascar and several countries.

It’s a well-deserved day for the oldest group of living primates, directly descended from the first primates on Earth, who traveled the African continent alongside the dinosaurs.

What should we know about lemurs ?

The NGO WWF Madagascar presents to us 05 things to know about lemurs, jewels of Madagascar’s biodiversity.

Where do lemurs come from? ?

The ancestors of lemurs would have arrived from Africa to Madagascar by natural floating raft there are 65 million years. Then they evolved and adapted in the different types of existing ecosystems. Lemurs have therefore diversified and today occupy very specific areas where they are endemic..

All our lemurs are in danger and risk extinction.

The arrival of the first human beings in Madagascar, two thousand years ago, marked the beginning of the exploitation of nature. Since, lemur habitat has shrunk due to deforestation, slash-and-burn cultivation, mining, illegal logging or charcoal mining.

Indeed, Madagascar lost 44 % of its natural forests for years 50. An update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species (IUCN) reveals that 31 % all species of lemurs in Madagascar are now critically endangered. Lemur population size is also declining. It’s because we hunt them for their meat.. And they are domesticated as pets.

Our lemurs are also vulnerable to climate change.

Species can disappear and leave their original natural environment due to climate change. According to a scientific study published in 2019 in “Nature Climate Change“, 95 % of lemur species habitat could be destroyed by 2070 because of global warming. En 2018, The report “Wildlife in a warming world” of WWF showed that the population of 57 lemur species will decline by 60% if the planet's temperature increases between 2°C and 4°C by 2100.

In such case, three areas have been identified as climate shelters to lemurs : the Masoala peninsula, the Mangoky River and an area in the Northwest of the country, including the Ankarafantsika National Park in Majunga.

Exploiting lemurs is punishable by law !

The law strictly punishes detention, transport, the sale and consumption of lemurs. There are laws in force for the strict protection of lemurs, as stipulated in the Protected Areas Code law (COAP) or the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Act (CITES).
The decree 2006-400 classifies the wildlife species of Madagascar into three categories. Protected species in the category 1, including the lemur, benefit from absolute protection throughout the Malagasy territory. The hunt, the capture, detention, the consumption and marketing of species is strictly prohibited in all their forms.
Offenses are punishable by a sentence of six (06) months to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and/or a fine of 5.000.000 to 2.000.000.000 Ariary according to their severity.

What can we do for lemurs ?

Human commitment is very important for the conservation of lemurs. This is why the WWF, the administration and its partners are committed to the protection of lemurs and forests with local communities.

WWF also supports communities in restoring natural forests. These are the places where lemurs live., as well as in awareness-raising actions.

We can also join the global action allowing all citizens to sign an online petition “Our voices for the planet” to call on our leaders to commit to concrete actions to reverse the degradation of nature. Let's participate in the restoration of the habitats of these iconic species of Madagascar, who are the pride of our country. Let's get informed and make sure that lemurs are talked about around the world.

(Source : WWF Madagascar 15/10/20)

“Lemurs : icons of Madagascar's biodiversity »

“Lemurs and their habitats : a heritage to be preserved »

By #CocoLodgeMajunga

Reminder, Coco Lodge Majunga is both :

• one hôtel★★★ with 18 comfortable rooms,
• one gourmet restaurant with a beautiful wine cellar, with a capacity of 60 Covered, offering Malagasy cuisine, French, Lebanese and seafood specialties,
• one pool bar with cocktails, "tsakitsaky", pancakes and waffles available at all hours,
• one organizer of events and conferences with 2 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 90 people,
• A travel and tourism services company, with License C,
• one tour operator, with License B,
• and a 4×4 and quads (all geo-located with valid liability insurance) and with graduate guide drivers. We can also ensure all your transfers. For example from Antananarivo airport to Majunga, but also from Nosy Be to Majunga.