We often speak of “Madagascar lemurs”. But lemurs, also called lemurs or lemurs, can also be seen in our Comoros islands. Very little information is available on the makis present in Anjouan and Mohéli. Thus, Dahari launched a research project on these animals in collaboration with Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership. Interview with the Dahari ecology team.

SO THERE ARE LEMURS WHICH LIVE IN THE NATURE OUTSIDE OF MADAGASCAR?

Indeed, There are two species living in the wild outside of Madagascar. The mongos lemur (Eulemur mongoz) is the species we study in Dahari. This species can be found on the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli in the Comoros archipelago. The other species is the tawny lemur (Eulemur fulvus mayottensis). It can be found on the island of Mayotte, which is also part of the archipelago. We do not know when or by whom the mongos lemur was introduced to the Comoros from Madagascar, but it was well before the arrival of Europeans. What we do know is that the oldest known illustration of these lemurs in Anjouan dates from 1744 (Popo Bay Voyages and Travels from Churchill's A Collection of Voyages, London, 1744).

HOW ARE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES PROVIDED?

In partnership with Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, our team is currently studying lemur tissues and feces, to measure the genetic distance between the population in Anjouan and Madagascar. The genetic portion of the work will be carried out by the genetic conservation department at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Depending on the results of this study, the Anjouan population could be used as a source population to genetically enrich the Madagascar population.

In Anjouan our role is to collect samples of lemur feces, and this is not an easy task. Mongo lemurs usually live in forest areas, with slopes exceeding 75%. They are therefore difficult to find and track. Given the scarcity of food on the island, lemurs travel significant distances to feed and it is often difficult to find them. And even when we find the lemurs, we can't always collect the feces – we can't track them if they run away because of the steep slopes. As a last resort, we started attracting them with fruit but we didn't have much more success. Sampling takes a long time and requires patience and perseverance. During the last five months we have been able to collect half of the necessary samples.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST REMARKABLE FIELD MEMORY?

In March, we decided to organize a big search for lemurs. We mobilized 12 people from the Dahari team, split into small groups, and walked through the forest. Our goal was to collect at least five fecal samples. Unfortunately, we had no luck in our hunt: it rained the day before and the lemurs remained hidden in the heart of the forest. All we got were scratches and bruises!

WHAT ARE THE THREATS TO LEMURS IN ANJOUAN?

Mongo lemurs are one of the most endangered lemur species in Madagascar, but no studies have yet estimated the population size of this species in the Comoros. We therefore do not know whether their number is decreasing or not. In Anjouan, lemurs can be seen occasionally in the forest, and, during the fruit season, in agricultural areas, villages and even towns. They particularly like mango and jackfruit.

Mongo lemurs are also often domesticated in the Comoros. It is not yet known whether their domestication is a threat to the species. On the other hand, what is certain is that lemurs are not hunted or consumed in Anjouan.

We therefore believe that the greatest threat to mongo lemurs is the destruction of their natural habitat. According to the United Nations, from 2000 to 2010, the rate of deforestation in the Comoros reaches 9.3% per year, the highest rate in the world. The main causes of deforestation are the expansion of agricultural areas and the felling of large trees for firewood.

WHAT IS DAHARI DOING FOR THE CONSERVATION OF MONGOS LEMURS?

Over the past seven years, the Dahari team has supported more than 2500 farmers, increasing their agricultural income through environmentally friendly techniques to help conserve the forest. We are now working with three local communities to establish the first protected forest areas before the end of 2015.

In the future, we will conduct research to estimate the size of the mongo lemur population in Anjouan. We will also seek to identify the distribution of the species and the type of habitat it prefers. This information is necessary if we are to develop an effective conservation program for this species.