Madagascar: A Wonderland of Animal Diversity
Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean about 250 miles off the coast of mainland Africa. It has been separated from other land masses for millions of years and was only discovered by humans about 2,000 years ago. As a result of being so isolated, most of the animals of Madagascar are endemic, meaning they occur nowhere else in the world. The absence of humans allowed species on Madagascar to flourish. The island is now a wonderland of animal diversity with lemurs, tenrecs, chameleons, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, colorful birds, and thousands of species of insects living throughout Madagascar's unique landscapes, which include tropical rain forests, spiny deserts, mountains, and temperate woodland.

Lemurs in the Mist
Madagascar is famous for its populations of lemurs, a primitive family of primates that once occurred throughout Africa but are now only found on Madagascar. There are more than 70 known lemur species and subspecies, 16 of which have gone extinct since the arrival of humans on the island. Those that remain are seriously endangered due to habitat loss.

Ring-Tailed Lemurs
Ring-tailed lemurs are grayish brown and have long tails with alternating bands of white and black rings. They have white faces, darkly ringed eyes and long pointy noses. Although they are adapted to a variety of forest types, ring-tailed lemurs prefer open areas and spend more time on the ground, compared to other lemur species. They are diurnal, meaning active during the day, and quite social. Whether feeding, sunning, grooming, or sleeping, ring-tails spend their time together in groups of up to about 30 individuals. They communicate using vocalizations, facial expressions, and by keeping their tails in the air while moving through the forest. They also engage in "stink fighting," in which they waive their tails in the air in order to intimidate rivals by their strong scent.

Like all lemurs, ring-tails are threatened by loss of habitat. They are officially protected from hunting and capture but are still sometimes killed for food or captured for the exotic pet trade.

Aye-Ayes
Another lemur species in Madagascar is the aye-aye. The aye-aye is a peculiar-looking animal that scientists initially thought was a species of rodent. They have huge eyes, a pointy nose, bat-like ears  and long, black bony fingers, giving them a distinctly spooky appearance. Unfortunately, the people of Madagascar are very superstitious and consider aye-ayes to be bad luck. Some fear this gentle creature so much that they kill them on sight.

During the day, aye-ayes sleep in nests made of branches and leaves. At night, they spend their time foraging for coconuts, fruit, insects and larvae. Aye-ayes have a very interesting method of searching for insects and larvae. As they creep along a tree branch, they tap the wood and listen for hollow spots and movement – a sure sign that insects are present. Then they chew down into the wood and scoop out their prize with their long, thin middle finger. This "insect scooper" is a bit of an evolutionary double-edged sword. Without it, the aye-aye would not be such a successful insectivore. On the other hand, the finger looks creepy, making the aye-aye more vulnerable to superstition and unfair treatment by humans.

Aye-ayes are among the most endangered animals in Madagascar. Habitat loss due to farming and logging has put them at high risk of going extinct. Human persecution only adds to the pressure on aye-ayes. Without strict conservation measures throughout their range, the fate of the aye-aye is uncertain.

Tenrecs
Tenrecs are insectivorous mammals found in Madagascar, mainland Africa, and nearby islands. They resemble moles, shrews and hedgehogs, and range in color from almost white to very dark. The tenrec’s coat is made up of stiff hairs that look like thin, prickly spines. The spines are used to deter predators but are also vibrated for communication. Tenrecs are extremely nocturnal; they spend the daytime in a state of torpor, in which their body temperature drops and their metabolism slows dramatically. Come evening, they emerge full of energy and ready for action. There are about 30 different species of tenrecs in Madagascar, found in aquatic, terrestrial, or arboreal (tree-dwelling) ecological niches. Like many animals in Madagascar, tenrec populations are vulnerable to loss of forest habitat on the island.

Conservation in Madagascar
Considering its rich assortment of life-forms, conservation in Madagascar is very important. Many of its endemic species are threatened and without measures to protect habitat, animals in Madagascar face a grim future. Conservation efforts on the island are complicated by the fact that the people of Madagascar have very limited economic opportunities and rely on the forests and natural resources they contain to sustain themselves. The challenge is to find ways to improve the lives of the people of Madagascar without destroying the forests and wildlife that occur there.

Most of Madagascar's forests have already been cleared for timber, agriculture and other developments. By some estimates, only 10 percent of Madagascar’s original forest cover is left intact. Without these forests, animals in Madagascar cannot survive. Losing Madagascar's biological wealth would be a huge blow to the world and its biological heritage. Fortunately, Madagascar is considered one of the top conservation priorities in the world today and a variety of projects are currently underway to help save its species.

Get Involved!
Would you like to help protect the animals of Madagascar? The Madagascar Fauna Group is working to conserve habitat for lemurs and other animals. There are a number of ways in which you can help. Find out how you can aid the conservation effort of lemurs in Madagascar. PLUS Wear a Shirt, Save a Lemur!