Greater bamboo lemur removed from most endangered list

Conservation efforts rewarded

November 2012. The greater bamboo lemur has been removed from the list of the 25 most endangered primates thanks to efforts of the The Aspinall Foundation, Conservation International and others in Madagascar.

The Aspinall Foundation has been working in Madagascar to protect the greater bamboo lemur, one of the most endangered primates in the world. The surveys carried out by the conservation charity's teams on the island have resulted in the greater bamboo lemur being removed from the list of the 25 most endangered primates in the world, for the first time in a decade.

Damian Aspinall said: ‘Madagascar is the number one priority in the world for the conservation of primate diversity and the greater bamboo lemur was, until recently, a symbol of the threats facing this remarkable island. Now the species symbolises what can be achieved with vision, passion and tireless commitment to locally relevant conservation.'

Considered highly endangered 5 years ago

Occurring only in the rainforests and bamboo thickets of eastern Madagascar, this unique lemur was considered to be in danger of imminent extinction - just five years ago. Since then, an ambitious collaborative species survival plan, proposed by the UK based charity - The Aspinall Foundation, has resulted in the discovery of several new populations of the highly elusive primate. Backed up by rapid development of community based conservation actions for the majority of these new populations, the future of the species is looking brighter.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/greater-bamboo.html