The State and Problems of Lemur Conservation in the Berenty Reserve, Southern Madagascar

Abstract

Lemurs are primates endemic to Madagascar, and most of them are in danger of extinction, mainly due to deforestation. Berenty Private Reserve is a gallery forest along the Mandrare river, southern Madagascar, which is dominated by tamarind (Tamarindus indica) trees and characterized by a high density of lemur populations. Lemurs of Berenty have been protected from hunting and environmental changes since 1936. In the last two decades, since the reserve was opened to tourists, several phenomena occurred in the Berenty: increase of ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and human-introduced red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur rufus) populations, large tamarind death, and alopecia syndrome among ring-tailed lemurs. These phenomena are potential risks that might cause instability of lemur populations in Berenty, but it is still difficult to determine the primary causes. In this paper, I summarize state of conservation of lemurs in Berenty Reserve and discuss the potentiality of the small-sized protected forest.