#SpeciesSpotlight about the Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis)! …

#SpeciesSpotlight about the Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis)! One of the most unique and critically endangered lemurs. Now recognized as one of the Top 25 most endangered primates, it is the only diurnal lemur which lives in an unusual reed bed habitat surrounding Lac Alaotra, Madagascar’s largest lake. In fact, there are no other primate species which exclusively inhabit a marshland habitat.

Perhaps more than any other lemur, they are captured and kept as pets by local residents. They are also hunted as bushmeat. Habitat disturbance is another major threat as their reed bed habitat is burned to facilitate fishing and expand cattle pasture and rice fields.
Population size estimates range from 2500 to 5000 remaining individuals. However, their wetland habitat is very difficult to survey, with visibility restricted to a few meters.

They are a cathemeral species that is active both during the day and night. Groups can contain as many as twelve members with home ranges between 1 and 8 hectares which are defended.
A small but self sustaining population is found in several European zoos.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC) are working to save the species in Madagascar. Below is a film clip in advance of a fantastic new film about this species by MWC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I102f_MXBSI

A Documentary Film – coming in 2016 This is a film about the PEOPLE living in the Alaotra region in Madagascar, and about the CHANGES in their social and nat…

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