Stony Brook University’s Centre ValBio (CVB), the premier research and conservation facility in Madagascar, is hosting its 1st annual Save The Lemurs event next week in New York City.
Dedicated to helping save lemurs and their habitats in Madagascar, the special event takes place next Tuesday, December 11th, at The Explorers Club.
Among the many reasons to attend, people will spend the evening with Dr. Patricia Wright, a world-renowned primatologist specializing in lemur biology who is committed to saving endangered lemurs and forests in Madagascar.
“Lemurs are on the brink of extinction and their habitats are quickly disappearing,” Dr. Wright explained in a statement. “Only a short window of time remains where we can join together to effect change in Madagascar and encourage the preservation of this unique region and the beautiful species within. The future of Madagascar’s forests and its lemurs is in our hands and it is imperative to support conservation efforts now.”
Lemurs are one of the most endangered mammals in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of the 111 species, 105 are critically endangered.
Lemurs, which only live in the wild in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, are the rainforest’s top seed dispersers and pollinators, and future forests depend on them.
Hunting and intensive deforestation have led to the lemurs imperiled position. Over 90% of natural habitat in Madagascar has been destroyed, and deforestation tragically continues today.
If remaining forests are not protected, the CVB estimates that 20% of lemur species may become extinct in the next three decades.
The First Annual Save The Lemur Event will support programs at Centre ValBio including:
-
Tree Corridors: Many critically endangered bamboo lemurs are stranded in small and degraded forest fragments. Tree and bamboo corridors will be planted to connect forest fragments to enable genetic exchange.
-
Lemur Tracking Collars: CVB scientists will track lemurs daily in their natural habitat to understand how they are adapting to their changing landscapes.
-
Studying Newly Discovered Golden Bamboo Lemurs (GBL): There are fewer than 1,000 GBLs in the wild. Research on a newly discovered population will focus on their needs for survival.
-
Education: Malagasy children are the future of the country. Raising their awareness and educating them on the value of lemurs will help protect the future of lemurs.
More information about the Save The Lemurs event can be found HERE!
