Ring-tailed lemurs by a baobab
Marni LaFleur
The organization’s conservation agenda is simultaneously animal-centric and human-focused, and works from the premise that human well-being is irrefutably intertwined with sustainable biodiversity. But conservation efforts will only work with the help and advocacy of grassroots Malagasy organizations and people.
The fifth-largest island in the world, Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean about 250 miles off the coast of southeast Africa. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 80% of those under 18 live in extreme poverty, and children are among the hardest hit by hunger, sickness, and need.
At the same time, Madagascar has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
The island is home to more than 200,000 known species, of which more than 80% are found nowhere else on Earth (including over 100 lemur species, all of which are threatened with extinction). Malagasy people rely on the ecosystem to live, leading to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. The most critical issues threatening the region are forest clearing, land conversion, and habitat alteration.
All photos on this page were provided courtesy of Lemur Love unless otherwise credited.
Lemur Love aims to improve local standards of living while preserving forests and the flora and fauna within. Efoetse is a village of roughly 800 households (4,600 people) and is the nearest human settlement to Lemur Love’s primary lemur research site, Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (TNP).
Efoetse is devoid of the daily necessities like running water, sanitation, and electricity; few opportunities are available to build village capacity.
This region of Madagascar is arid and experiences frequent droughts. Food insecurity is high in Efoetse as local agricultural resources are scarce and insufficient, and goods imported from other regions of Madagascar are often expensive.
With financial support from Population Connection, Lemur Love engages in the following activities:
Lemur Love staff observing a lemur
Fellow analyzing data collected in the field.
Ranger team located in Tsimanampesotse National Park (TNP).
A fellow in the field examining lemur feces. Fellows are young academic researchers being mentored and trained to draft a manuscript publication based on their data.
Mangily, another village Lemur Love has supported. There are about 400 kids at the La Marmaille school.
Meeting with locals from Efoetse, the village nearest TNP.
Research Team Meeting
A ring-tailed mom and her youngster
Ring-tailed lemur
Marni with Lemur Love colleagues
Dr. Marni started Lemur Love as a mechanism to protect lemurs in southwestern Madagascar, after witnessing deforestation and poaching of wild ring-tailed lemurs. She now recognizes that conservation is much more about humans than animals and that the historical, political, and social influences within Madagascar are important considerations to conservation agendas.
In addition to being a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group Section for Human-Primate Interactions, Dr. Marni is also an Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego, where she teaches Biological Anthropology. She is passionate about the rights of both animals and humans, fairness, and equity, and aims to instill these values in her students.
Dr. Seheno oversees all Lemur Love staff and programs within Madagascar. Seheno earned her Ph.D. at the University of Antananarivo where she focused on the seed dispersal of Malagasy baobab trees. She had a life-changing experience when she worked at the NGO Reniala Lemur Rescue Center, in that she fell in love with lemurs and became an advocate for their conservation.
In addition to her role at Lemur Love, Dr. Seheno is the manager of the Lemur Conservation Network, and a member of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group’s Section for Human-Primate Interactions. Seheno’s collaborative research on baobabs is currently funded by the Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grant and PEER-USAID.
To help commemorate Earth Day 2022, we were thrilled to host Founder Dr. Marni LeFleur and on-the-ground Director Dr. Seheno for a virtual presentation. During their talk, Lemurs, Women, and Science we learned how the organization’s conservation efforts work in tandem with the Malagasy people to improve the livelihoods of the community, along with the flora and fauna around Tsimanampesotse National Park.
Presentation Slides: Lemurs, Women, and Science by Dr. Marni LaFleur and Dr. Seheno Cordaunt-Andriantsaralaza
Through our Global Partners program, Population Connection supports a growing number of grassroots organizations around the world working to increase access to education, public health and family planning services. Their…
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