Madagascar Volunteer

Research & Conservation Institute

   
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Is Ecotourism Benefiting Madagascar’s Black Lemur?

The first thing that springs to mind when thinking of conservation and ecotourism in Madagascar is the lemur and the Black Lemur (Eulemur Macaco) is probably the favourite animal of many of our volunteers that have visited the island. Lemurs are found nowhere else in the world and Black Lemurs are to be found only in the north-western parts of Madagascar.

Madagascar Ecotourism: black lemurMale Black Lemurs (as the name suggests) are black or a dark chocolate colour with thick fur and long tufts of black hair around the ears.  Females of the species have radically different appearances to males, having led to the belief for many years that they were a completely different species of lemur. Females are lighter brown to chestnut in colour with white bellies and white tufts around the ears. There are actually two species of Black Lemur – the Eulemur macaco which has brown or orange eyes is considered to be vulnerable and Eulemur flavifrons which is critically endangered and is the only primate (other than humans) to have blue eyes.

The Lemur’s primary food is fruit, making up 78% of its diet making them significant agents for seed dispersal. You’ll come across many photos of our volunteers sharing their fruit (especially bananas) with the lemurs around our research centre. They also eat flowers, leaves, fungi and some invertebrates, and during the dry season you will find them feeding on nectar.

Black Lemurs live in groups of 2 to 15 members with more or less equal numbers of males and females, where females are dominant. They are active during the day and night and forage in the upper and middle canopy of the forest at night but in the understory in the day. One of the biggest threats to the lemur is loss of habitat and in degraded areas you will even find them foraging on the ground.

Madagascar Ecotourism: gap year volunteering with black lemursIt’s also been noted that Black Lemurs regularly pick up and bite toxic millipedes to force them to release toxins in self-defence and them rub it on themselves to deposit the toxin on their fur. This usually isn’t fatal to the lemurs and we aren’t quite sure why they do it. Some believe the toxin repels other insects while other researchers suggest they do it to achieve a high. When they inhale or ingest enough of the toxin, it inhibits their monoamine oxidase system, resulting in the high. I don’t know about you, but that certainly brings King Julian from Disney’s “Madagascar” to my mind…

Did you Know

The word “Lemur” is actually Latin for “ghost”. They were probably named thus because living so high up in the forest canopy, they were rarely seen but their calls were easily heard from the ground. These calls include a recognition grunt (that sounds more like a duck’s quack) when identifying each other, a cohesion call to keep track of each other, an alarm call to warn of predators and the purr of contentment that babies use when being groomed.

madagascar ecotourism: baby black lemur - Volunteer AbroadConservation

The main threat to Madagascar’s lemurs is deforestation for agriculture, firewood and charcoal production, logging and burning to create pastures for cattle. Sadly, they are also hunted for food and captured for the pet trade or for zoos. Black Lemurs also raid crops, which is another reason they are killed.

Madagascar’s unique isolated island evolution makes the island the world’s highest priority for conservation, with new species being discovered all the time. Even as late as the 1980s, two new species of lemurs were discovered. Volunteer programs like our forest conservation program, are vital in the preservation of its wildlife.

So how will ecotourism in Madagascar benefit the Black Lemur?

Given it’s tolerance of people and adaptability to having its habitat disturbed, it has a higher chance of survival in close proximity to humans than it less adaptable cousins, making ecotourism a promising way to preserve safeguard their future.

The worldwide growth in ecotourism is a strong economic incentive for Madagascar to preserve its natural environment. The unique animal life and hot springs offer potential tourist attractions and future jobs. Efforts are now being made to replant Madagascar Volunteer & Ecotourism: Black lemur & tortoisesteep, barren slopes affected by landslides that are unsuitable for agriculture with fruit trees and to restore channels to revive abandoned rice fields. This will restore the natural habitat of the lemurs whilst also improving the lives of the local farmers – a win-win situation for all.

Can ecotourism provide enough motivation for Madagascar’s people to become a part of the conservation efforts to preserve its biodiversity?

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

2 days ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Meet Solly, our much-loved Marine Conservation Officer.Solly’s dream is to become a PADI Diving Instructor.MRCI has undertaken to create this GoFundMe account in collaboration with Emily Borth to help Solly achieve his dream.Please donate and help us make Solly’s dream come true!The link can also be found in our story Highlights!https://gofund.me/176e591d ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at the goodies we just recieved! As our volunteers and staff know, getting new eqipment, spare parts etc. is a real challenge! Luckily, @lunamoonsailing just arrived from South Africa, with a “boat-load” of spare parts, new aluminium tanks, a new generator and many other things! It feels like Christmas morning!#Madagascarvolunteer #mrci #nosybe #nosykomba #lunamoon ... See MoreSee Less

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1 month ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Thanks all for the funds that we received up until now ❤️ Solly has worked so hard to get where he is and we need your support now to achieving his final dream as a PADI Instructor in his professional diving career! 🎉If you feel like you could support Solly, click on the link below to donate! 🙏🏼🎉https://gofund.me/176e591d#madagascar #madagascarvolunteer #sollysdream #fundraiser #padiinstructor #PADIIDC2023 #PADIIDC2024 #paditv #localmarinebiologist #marineresearch #padiprofessional #futurecareer #gofundme ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

2 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at these cool finds from one of our recent drift dives! Have you ever seen a nudibranch feeding train? #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

2 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Do you want to join our teaching program? We teach many different classes, at different levels and with many different age groups!In fact our classes are becoming so popular, that we have to double the number of classes per level! Join us via the link in our bio!#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
When we’re not exploring the island and surrounding reef, our volunteers prepare presentations to educate their fellow volunteers!Once presented on camp, we head to Be village, to present in a class filled with students who are eager to learn more about their surroundings!#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at this cool find! We see some cool stuff on our sunrise dives - yesterday we found 28 nudibranchs! Some of them over 14cm! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated #oceanconservation #marineconservation ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Sophie is teaching our local kids class🌞We love to see how the kids are so engaged and motivated to learn.To join our community program, check our link in bio! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Did you know we go on night hikes every week?Lots of creatures are mostly active at night and look at this cool find! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Meet our volunteer of the week Fionn! Along with forest officer Fedy and Donna, staff of the week!Fionn has been a great champion on Forest program and a great friend all around! 🦎#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Madagascar Office: Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, Home Sakalava, Rue R Tsiomeko, Hell-Ville, Nosy Be, Madagascar
Phone: +261 32 50 891 57
Office Hours: Please take note of the time zone differences when contacting us.
Email: volunteer@madagascarvolunteer.com

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Teaching | Marine Conservation | Forest Conservation | Combinations

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