Silky Sifaka Lemur--The Elusive and Endangered Primate

[Edme1]

I have recently learned about the silky sifaka lemur. It only lives on isolated areas in Madagascar, and their number is down to between 100-1000 individuals. They usually live in groups of two to nine animals, and they mate on only one day of the year-usually in the rainy season. Females give birth only about once every two years, making reproduction slow. Currently, their main threat is humans, but the thing that drove them to near-extinction in the first place was raptors. They would swoop down and grab the lemurs, mostly young ones. But, ironically, the raptors that made them endangered had gone extinct.

Source: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ne ... aka-lemurs

[WolvesOfTheSeas]

That truely sad and thanks for sharing

[Edme1]

You're welcome. I first heard the name 'silky sifaka lemur' in a book from a book series. ^^

[Fern7]

Was this book series Artemis Fowl? I had to ask.

And wow, the Silky Sifaka is in some trouble.

[Edme1]

Yep, it was Artemis Fowl. Glad to know you read it too (I'm assuming)! They're truly beautiful creatures, with their white fur and tiny hands. It's too bad that they're so badly endangered.

[Fern7]

Of course I read Artemis Fowl. Anyways, unlike other endangered species, the Silky Sifaka really appears to be very unknown. Maybe if there was more awareness to these beautiful creatures, we could save them.

[Edme1]

Agreed. But there isn't much opportunity for one, considering they just live on an isolated island and nowhere else. That is probably what makes them so hard to study and protect.