This mother ring-tailed lemur and her very young baby were just one of many lemur species we enjoyed photographing on our recent trip to Madagascar. Like almost all lemurs, the ring-tailed lemur is endangered. The IUCN Red List states that 98% of lemur species are threatened with extinction, with 33 species being critically endangered. The primary threats include habitat destruction from slash-and-burn agriculture and illegal logging, as well as hunting and the pet trade.
This year’s trip was quite exciting, as a coup began on our first day in the country. By the time we left, the military had taken over. Thankfully, our first trip finished as planned, and we came away with some amazing photos. You can help support lemur research by donating to the Lemur Conservation Foundation.