Stop Lemur Hunting in Madagascar

Join the Guardians of the Canopy in our quest to stop lemur hunting in Madagascar!

 Lemurs only live wild on the island of Madagascar. 94% of all lemur species are in danger of extinction and time is running out to save them. One of the biggest threats to their survival is hunting by humans, usually for food. The eight largest species of lemur have already become extinct since humans colonised the island, and are only known from fossil remains.

The Guardians of the Canopy want to make sure no more lemur species go extinct.

 Most forests in Madagascar are now affected by human activities. To help lemurs survive we need to understand how they adapt to human disturbance and put in place conservation strategies to protect them. But lemur protection can only work if local people support it. This is the first project to investigate hunting from the perspectives of lemurs and people sharing the same forest. It will help us develop effective conservation strategies that protect lemurs as well as meeting the needs of local people.

We are working in Tsitongambarika humid forest to protect the two most hunted lemur species in south-east Madagascar – the collared brown lemur (Eulemur collaris) and the southern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis). Join the Guardians of the Canopy in our quest to stop lemur hunting in Madagascar!

 

Why do these lemurs need our help?

Both our lemur species only live in the south-eastern tip of Madagascar and their forest habitats are shrinking rapidly. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world and in rural areas people still depend on forests for food, natural medicines and wood for building and fuel. Despite legal protection, collared brown lemurs and southern bamboo lemurs are the species most often hunted, using snare traps and slingshots. Lemurs are important because many disperse tree seeds, keeping the forest healthy for the benefit of animals and people alike. The number of these lemurs left in the wild is decreasing rapidly so we need to act quickly to save them from extinction.



By joining the Guardians of the Canopy you can help save lemurs from extinction!

 Who am I?  And why am I crowdfunding?

My name is Claire Cardinal and I am the project leader. I am a primatologist and a self-funded doctoral student at Oxford Brookes University. I have a MSc in Primate Conservation and a HND in Animal Management and have led primate conservation projects in Viet Nam, Indonesia and Madagascar. My fascination with lemurs started when I worked with ring-tailed lemurs and black and white ruffed lemurs at Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens. I loved watching their behaviour and social interactions but was saddened to learn about the conservation problems and poverty in Madagascar. This spurred my determination to see lemurs living wild in their natural habitat and do whatever I can to protect their future.

 Despite my qualifications and experience, there is not much money in conservation, and I need funding for my field research in Madagascar. I have been awarded an important grant by Global Wildlife Conservation’s Lemur Conservation Action Fund and IUCN SOS to help start my field work in May. But for the project to be successful I need to raise more money. That’s why I’ve launched this crowdfunding project to seek support for this vital lemur conservation project.

 

Thank you very much for any contribution you make. Your help is invaluable to help us stop lemur hunting.

Where will the funding go?

I am seeking funds to carry out field research in Madagascar during 2018 and 2019.

To stop lemur hunting, we need to first understand the causes of hunting and how it affects the lemurs. During 2018 and 2019 I will travel to south-east Madagascar to carry out field research at two study sites in Tsitongambarika forest, in two 5-6 month stints. At each site I’ll be working with local Malagasy guides to survey populations of collared brown lemurs and southern bamboo lemurs and record any signs of hunting. When we encounter a lemur group we’ll study their behavioural reactions to find out how they respond to people in the forest. We’ll also be interviewing people living in nearby villages to learn about their relationships with lemurs and how they use forest resources.  

These data will be used to model how lemurs respond to different types of hunting pressures and to develop evidence-based strategies for their conservation. We’re collaborating with Asity Madagascar, the NGO that manages Tsitongambarika, so our results will feed directly into their conservation action plan.

Is it like being on holiday?

Only if you like leeches in your socks!  Both sites are very remote and can only be reached by walking 3-5 hours from the nearest road. We have to carry all our equipment and supplies in with the help of local porters. The field stations are quite basic so we sleep in tents. I’ll spend about half my time at the Ampasy field station, which was set up three years ago and has a kitchen and eating area, latrine toilets and bucket showers. At the second site, we will build temporary facilities on a disused field to provide a latrine and shelter for eating and cooking.

The lemurs we’re studying get up at sunrise, so we have to be ready at 5 a.m. otherwise we’ll miss them. A quick breakfast, and then we’re off into the forest for a full day of surveys. The terrain is steep, it often rains and we face a continual onslaught of mosquitos and leeches. On the plus side, the forest and rivers are beautiful and seeing wild lemurs in their natural habitat is a joy every time.

How much do I need to raise?

100% of the funds will go to field research. I work part-time in the university library to pay for my living costs.

The minimum I need to raise is £5000.

Here is a breakdown of how the money will be spent:



Who are the other Guardians of the Canopy? 

Dr Giuseppe Donati, PhD, MSc, BSc

Giuseppe is a Reader in Primatology & Biological Anthropology in the Department of Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University. With over two decades of experience researching lemur behaviour and ecology in southern Madagascar, he is recognised as one of the leading experts in this field. His research group studies how primates tolerate habitat change. Dr Donati is a member of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group with lead responsibility for lemur research and conservation in Tsitongambarika Protected Area.

 

Professor Catherine Hill, PhD, MSc, BSc

Kate is a Professor in Anthropology in the Department of Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University. She has conducted extensive fieldwork and research in Africa and is renowned for her work focussing on people-wildlife interactions and the human dimensions of conservation. She has published numerous influential articles and books on the subject of human-wildlife interactions and is a member of the IUCN SSC Task Force on Human-Wildlife Conflict.

 

The Malagasy team

At each site I’ll be supported by a wonderful team of Malagasy people who work as field guides, site guardians and cooks. I’ll be working with a Malagasy translator for the interviews and meetings in local villages. I’ll also be supporting a postgraduate student from the University of Antananarivo to gain experience in conservation work and carry out their own research project. Helping train Malagasy conservationists for the future.

 



Thank you so much for joining the Guardians of the Canopy in our quest to stop lemur hunting in Madagascar!

 
How can you follow the project?

All backers will be added to my newsletter mailing list to receive updates on our project progress. You can also follow the hashtag #GuardiansoftheCanopy on social media.

Rewards

We’ve got some exciting rewards to say thank you for your generous support. Have a look to find out how you can get lemur postcards and limited edition art by talented wildlife artist Lilia Nowakowska and creative designer Max Armstrong.

 The Rewards are for guidance only – you can choose the amount when you’ve clicked the “Donate Now” button.

Rewards levels

£5
Lemur Supporter
You will have the lemurs’ and my eternal thanks for your support.

£10
Lemur Ally
You will receive a personalised Lemur Ally e:certificate*

 £25
Lemur Friend
You will receive a personalised Lemur Friend e:certificate* and a postcard of a collared brown lemur photographed in the field

£50
Lemur Protector
You will receive a personalised Lemur Protector e:certificate* and an A4 photograph of a collared brown lemur taken in the field

£100
Lemur Guardian
You will receive a personalised Lemur Guardian e:certificate* and a set of special edition lemur postcards**

£500
Lemur Champion
You will receive a personalised Lemur Champion e:certificate*, a set of special edition lemur postcards** and a limited edition Guardians of the Canopy poster***

£1000
Lemur Hero
You will receive a personalised Lemur Hero e:certificate* and an A3 limited edition lemur artwork print** and be invited for dinner with the lemur team.****

£2500
Lemur Superstar
You will receive a very special personalised rewards package and  I will acknowledge your contribution in any publications or publicity made in connection with the project.



* We’ve chosen electronic certificates to save paper. They’re in printable form so you can print yours out if you’d like to.
** Hand-drawn by talented wildlife artist Lilia Nowakowska
*** Created by talented designer Max Armstrong
**** Travel not included