Species of the Day: Alaotran Gentle Lemur
© James Morgan
Species of the Day: Alaotran Gentle Lemur The Alaotran Gentle Lemur, Hapalemur alaotrensis, is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Fewer than 3,000 individuals remain in the wild in two fragmented populations within 19,000 hectares of marsh in Lake Alaotra, the largest lake in Madagascar. The Alaotran Gentle Lemur is the only exclusively wetland-dwelling primate in the world. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.durrell.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The main threats to the species are loss of habitat to rice agriculture, uncontrolled marsh burning during the dry season, and poaching. Burning is largely carried out to access new areas for fishing, but as well as destroying habitat it causes direct mortality to native species and facilitates the spread of invasive plants. The entire Lake Alaotra watershed was designated as a Ramsar site in 2004, and the lake and marshes were made a protected area in 2007. Conservation organizations have been working closely with local communities to encourage sustainable use of the wetland and to reduce poaching pressure on the lemur. Rigorous protection of the Lake Alaotra marshes and engagement with local communities must be maintained in order to save the Alaotran Gentle Lemur from extinction. Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
Species of the Day: Alaotran Gentle Lemur The Alaotran Gentle Lemur, Hapalemur alaotrensis, is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Fewer than 3,000 individuals remain in the wild in two fragmented populations within 19,000 hectares of marsh in Lake Alaotra, the largest lake in Madagascar. The Alaotran Gentle Lemur is the only exclusively wetland-dwelling primate in the world. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.durrell.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The main threats to the species are loss of habitat to rice agriculture, uncontrolled marsh burning during the dry season, and poaching. Burning is largely carried out to access new areas for fishing, but as well as destroying habitat it causes direct mortality to native species and facilitates the spread of invasive plants. The entire Lake Alaotra watershed was designated as a Ramsar site in 2004, and the lake and marshes were made a protected area in 2007. Conservation organizations have been working closely with local communities to encourage sustainable use of the wetland and to reduce poaching pressure on the lemur. Rigorous protection of the Lake Alaotra marshes and engagement with local communities must be maintained in order to save the Alaotran Gentle Lemur from extinction. Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
