Protect lemurs. Empower women. Further science.

In the months following the COVID outbreak, we were unable to travel to Madagascar for our scheduled research activities. During this time, we pivoted our programming to provide urgent humanitarian aid the the communities we work within including Efoetse, and Mangily, and additionally Andasibe. Our aim is to increase food security to vulnerable families within communities living close to lemur habitats, to both decrease suffering to human populations and also to prevent further environmental destruction for daily subsistence. You can read more about the situation in southern Madagascar and our programs in this recent MONGABAY article. 

Our aim during COVID is to conserve nature and to promote human wellbeing through urgent aid programs. 

Humanitarian aid: 

Efoetse

Efoetse is the village nearest to the Tsimanampesotse National Park. (TNP), in southwestern Madagascar. Our long-term field research takes place in TNP and we have thus come to know people from the village of Efoetse. This area is remote, extremely arid and frequently impacted by drought, and suffers from food insecurity. Following the COVID lockdowns and associated local travel restrictions in Madagascar, Efoetse suffered economic collapse and significant interruptions to the supply chains of foods and household goods. We relied on information from Filoma Laha (Mayor of Efoetse), our Community Advisor Lanto Vonimalala, and partnered with the Conseil Diocesain De Development (CDD) to implement distributions of food and cash community members. Our goal was to provide relief to the most vulnerable members of the community. Allotments were given to women, with priority given to those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and/or have children under five years old in their homes. 
In total, raised and sent $9900 to Efoetse, which was distributed to 461 women and likely impacted over 2600 people.

Mangily 

Mangily is a village approximately 20 km north of Toliara, in southwestern Madagascar. In the past, we have collaborated with the ONG Reniala Lemur Rescue Center which is located in Mangily. Additionally, we formed a relationship with La Marmaille primary school in Mangily because of their commitment to environmental education in their curriculum. Mdm Angellia Razandrainy is our Community Advisor to Mangily and is also the founder and director of La Marmaille school. Families of La Marmaille students experienced severe food insecurity and inability to pay school tuition fees. We were able to raise and send $6732 to Mangily to support food aid and school fees (these pay the teachers' salaries) of La Marmaille students. 110 families were impacted by the food aid and this likely impacted 638 people. Additionally, we were able to get 150 students started in school, who could otherwise afford to attend, in October 2020. We've also implemented an emergency fund from which any mother of a student can receive funds for immediate purchase of food, medicines, or other urgent necessities. 

Andasibe

Andasibe is a popular tourist destination approximately 100 km from Madagascar's capital of Antananarivo. Although we don't conduct research in this region, we recognize Andasibe's importance in terms of lemur conservation, and responded to information suggesting that local people were suffering from a loss of tourist revenue and food insecurity. A remarkable 11 species of lemur can be found in Andasibe, including the iconic indri. We partnered with Association Mitsinjo in order to distribute one-time disbursements of food to women and their families living adjacent to lemur habitat. We raised and sent $1678 to Andasibe, which impacted 170 families and approximately 986 people. 

Other programs:

MONITORING AND PATROL OF LEMURS AND SPINY FOREST HABITAT

The Andranovoa Paraecology Team (APT) is a permanent ecological monitoring was started by SuLaMa in 2006, which is now monitored by WWF Madagascar. APT collects systematic ecological data within the Park, including daily weather conditions, phenology, and long-term monitoring of animal populations (radiated tortoise, giant-striped mongoose). In 2019, they also began monitoring the three focal groups of ring-tailed lemurs that Marni LaFleur (Lemur Love founder and director) has been studying since 2008. The ANT is of particular importance because they are the only permanent human presence within the Park, and are thus the first to know if illegal trafficking of protected plants or animals is taking place. 

Lemur Love Writing fellowships for Malagasy students and early career Researchers

Lemur Love received a small grant, from Global Wildlife Conservation, to fund 6-month writing fellowships for Malagasy students and early career scholars.Fellowships will pair junior Malagasy colleagues with one Lemur Love mentor, and one external academic mentor. Mentors will assist fellows with all aspects of manuscript generation including data analyses, English-language writing, and revisions. Fellows will receive a stipend and need to meet bi-monthly goals set with mentors, with the aim of developing their writing and publishing skills and advancing their careers. Successful applicants will be notified by Nov 15, 2020. 

Tsimpanampesotse Expedition, lead by Dr. Hoby Ambinintsoa

Dr. Ambinintsoa will be leading an expedition to TNP in late November of 2020. Details to follow. 

You can support our urgent relief programs through the donate button below or via our Facebook page. 

​Lemur Love is a small US-based non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) that conducts scientific research and 
​partners with Malagasy women to build capacity and promote conservation.