Discovery Adding to Lemur Conservation Science
Congratulations to Matt McGee, a PhD candidate in the Razafindratsima Lab at UC Berkeley, on his recent publication in the International Journal of Primatology! While conducting fieldwork in the little-explored southern reaches of Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve (ASSR), Matt documented a previously unconfirmed population of Critically Endangered red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra). The paper, A Newly Documented Occurrence of Critically Endangered Red Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia rubra) in Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, Northeast Madagascar, is open access.
Why This Discovery Matters
ASSR, Wildlife Madagascar’s first conservation field site, is home to 13 species of lemurs, including the Critically Endangered indri and silky sifaka. This discovery adds another important species to that list.
Red ruffed lemurs, like other large-bodied lemurs, play an important role as seed dispersers, helping forests regenerate. According to the paper, many of Madagascar’s large lemurs are threatened with extinction, so identifying and protecting previously undocumented populations is important for the long-term health of the forest. Although only a small number of red ruffed lemurs were recorded during reconnaissance surveys, confirming their presence expands our understanding of the species’ distribution and highlights a population that needs protection.
Camp Varecia: Strengthening Our Presence in ASSR
This discovery also prompted us to establish a permanent field camp in the area: Camp Varecia. The camp strengthens our long-term research and conservation efforts in this remote part of the reserve and gives our field team a base from which to continue studying and protecting its wildlife. It builds on our broader work in ASSR, where we combine wildlife research, community engagement, and forest restoration through initiatives such as Let’s Plant A Million Trees.
Thank You to Our Partners
A huge thank you to the Apenheul Primate Conservation Trust for their generous support, which made this work possible, and to Madagascar National Parks for their continued partnership and support of conservation research in ASSR. Congratulations to Matt and all the co-authors on this important contribution to lemur conservation!
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