Lemurs

Madagascar is the only place on Earth where lemurs live in the wild, making them one of the island’s most extraordinary natural treasures. Today, scientists recognize more than 110 species and subspecies of lemurs, each uniquely adapted to Madagascar’s diverse landscapes.

They inhabit nearly every type of ecosystem across Madagascar such as the humid rainforests of the east, the dry deciduous forests of the west, spiny forests of the south, mountain forests and even mangrove areas. Each region shelters different species found nowhere else in the world.

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Lemurs belong to the primate suborder Strepsirrhini, an ancient evolutionary branch that split from monkeys and apes over 60 million years ago. Because Madagascar became geographically isolated, lemurs evolved independently, creating an incredible diversity of sizes, behaviors, and appearances making them endemics to the Island. 

They range from the tiny Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur to the large and vocal Indri, famous for its whale-like songs echoing through the forest.

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Sadly, lemurs are considered the most endangered group of mammals on Earth, mainly due to deforestation and habitat loss. In response, Madagascar has expanded its network of protected areas, including:

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (famous for the Indri), Ranomafana National Park (rich in rare bamboo lemurs) and Ankarafantsika National Park (home to several nocturnal species).

Community-based conservation projects and eco-tourism initiatives now play a crucial role in protecting forests while supporting local livelihoods.

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Lemurs have few natural predators, but their main wild threat is the fossa (a cat-like carnivore) found only in Madagascar but raptors and large snakes may also prey on smaller species.