Lemur News

Probe details the playbook of one of Amazon’s top land grabbers
- Professional land grabbers operating in the Brazilian Amazon have sophisticated strategies to steal and deforest public lands and get away with it.
- According to the Federal Police, Bruno Heller is one of Amazon’s largest deforesters and relied on legal and technical advice, including a fake contract, bribing police officers, and near-real-time monitoring of deforestation work through satellite imagery, investigators said.
- Low penalties and hurdles faced by federal bodies in seizing back stolen lands from criminals have spurred the land-grabbing industry in Brazil.

The force is strong with new giant ‘Darth Vader’ sea bug found off Vietnam
What’s new: From the seafood markets of Vietnam, researchers have identified a species of giant crustacean or “sea bug” that’s new to science. They’ve named it Bathynomus vaderi, for its distinctly shaped head reminiscent of the helmet of Star Wars villain Darth Vader, according to a recently published study. What the study says: Bọ biển […]
‘Unusual’ and weak La Niña confirmed, offers cooling respite after record El Niño
It’s official: a weak La Niña came into fruition in late December and is expected, with significant uncertainty, to last until sometime between February and April, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced. La Niña often brings wetter conditions to Southeast Asia and the Brazilian Amazon, while cooling global temperatures overall, potentially easing recent […]
Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding
- Indigenous communities in the Philippines’ Mt. Kalatungan protected area have since 2021 carried out a tree-planting campaign to restore native vegetation lost to decades of commercial logging and agriculture.
- Known as rainforestation, it aims to rejuvenate vital ecosystem services like flood mitigation, which benefits urban areas downstream, while also providing incentives for the communities driving the restoration.
- The rainforestation program is led by community groups, making use of their knowledge of native plants, and marks a shift from the government’s decades-long, centrally managed reforestation efforts that relied on planting nonnative species.
- Communities are already benefiting from exports of the coffee that they grow in the shade of larger trees, but proponents of the scheme say there needs to be more interest and funding from outside to ensure long-term success.

River culture is the rhythmic pulse of the Bengal Delta (commentary)
- Reviving rivers in Bangladesh is not simply an ecological issue, but also a socio-cultural one, and an economic imperative.
- The government and the people must come together to protect and restore the rivers, not just for environmental sustainability and justice, but also to preserve the rich heritage and cultural identity associated with these waterways, a new op-ed argues.
- This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Mongabay.

Bangladesh sees first ever rewilding of captive-bred elongated tortoises
Two species of critically endangered tortoises were reintroduced to Bangladesh’s forests last December. Six captive-bred elongated tortoises (Indotestudo elongata) were first released in Lawachara National Park in northeastern Bangladesh on Dec. 18. This was followed by the release of 10 Asian giant tortoises (Manouria emys phayrei) in Matamuhuri Reserve Forest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of […]
Firefighters in LA blaze face same toxic exposure as 9/11 responders
Smoke from wildfire poses a host of health concerns, but when fires burn through urban areas, like the ongoing inferno in Los Angeles, U.S., the health risks increase dramatically. “This is an entirely different situation because the wildfire smoke is bad enough, but when synthetic materials burn, they’re going to give off more toxics, not only in […]
In Bangladesh, a botanist brings quick, fun lessons to social media
- A botany expert turned online educator in Bangladesh is proving that anyone can become a plant enthusiast, no educational degree required.
- With his short, snappy videos, Azharul Islam Khan has captivated around a million followers on social media, teaching them about the diversity of Bangladeshi plants and trees.
- His engaging content isn’t just for plant lovers; it’s building a diverse community of students, eco-conscious families and nature enthusiasts.
- Azharul is on a mission to protect the environment, advocating sustainable tree planting and educating the public about the importance of balanced ecosystems.

A venomous Australian spider turns out to be 3 species, not 1
The Sydney funnel-web spider, a highly venomous arachnid found crawling in and around Australia’s most populous city, was long thought to be a single species. But it’s actually three different species, a new study has found. One of these, called “Big Boy” for its unusually large size, is new to science. “You would think we […]
Sustaining a 400-year-old Ethiopian farming tradition: Interview with elder Gehano Guchoir
- In southern Ethiopia, the Konso people have maintained a 400-year-old stone terracing system, essential for farming in the region’s semiarid environment.
- This UNESCO-listed practice helps prevent soil erosion, conserve water and enhance agricultural productivity, and at the heart of it are the Konso elders who play a crucial role in passing down the knowledge of terracing to younger generations.
- However, population growth and climate change threaten the survival of the terracing system, and with land becoming scarce, many young Konso people are migrating to cities, leaving behind traditional farming.
- Combined with the unpredictable impacts of climate change, this exodus risks severing the transmission of critical knowledge and weakening the community’s agricultural practices and cultural identity.

Plans for bauxite mine in Suriname reignite Indigenous land rights debate
- A bauxite mine run by Chinese corporation Chinalco could begin operating next year, endangering a 280,000-hectare (about 692,000 acres) area of western Suriname inhabited by Indigenous communities.
- The mine will require refurbishing and expanding infrastructure for a harbor and railroad built in the 1970s, and gives the company “priority right” to use the Corantijn river for dredging.
- Indigenous groups said they weren’t properly consulted about the project and that the government is unfairly labeling their territory as public domain.

Safeguarding the shea nut legacy for Ugandan women
KAL AWINYA, Uganda – In rural Uganda, 34-year-old Adong Betty from Kal Awinya village shares how shea nuts sustain her family and community. Her own childhood was marked by active participation in collecting and processing shea nuts with her mother, instilling in her a deep respect for this tradition. Shea nuts are a critical part […]
Should mining companies consider no-go zones where isolated Indigenous peoples live? (Commentary)
- Irresponsible mining for critical minerals, like those used in renewable technologies, can threaten the existence of Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, who are amongst the world’s most vulnerable populations.
- Companies like Tesla are considering no-go zones where uncontacted people live. While the idea of establishing these zones is increasingly pragmatic, the author says the most crucial thing for companies to do is conduct rigorous human rights due diligence from the initial stages of mine development right through to closure.
- Danielle Martin from the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) says this approach relies on the meaningful and inclusive engagement and the participation of affected Indigenous peoples. But for Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, engagement and participation may not be possible and agreement may not be attainable.
- This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily Mongabay.

Ogoni women restore mangroves and livelihoods in oil-rich Niger Delta
- After decades of crude oil spills and the introduction of invasive plant species, thousands of hectares of mangroves in the Niger Delta are destroyed, impacting aquatic species and women’s livelihoods.
- Ogoni women from coastal villages, supported by the Lokiaka Community Development Centre, have been at the forefront of reforestation efforts.
- The women have planted 2.6 million mangrove trees since 2018, drawing attention from a government agency that hired them to share their knowledge and plant mangroves for its oil spill rehabilitation project.
- Around 300 women from Ogoni communities have been trained in mangrove reforestation.

Elephants, gorillas and chimps hold out in Cameroon’s largest protected landscape
- A new survey finds that populations of forest elephants, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees have remained relatively stable in a large landscape in southeastern Cameroon.
- In some cases, populations actually rose significantly in the region’s protected areas, but declined on the outskirts.
- Officials attribute this “positive” trend to hard work and the implementation of a “permanent presence technique” to deter poaching by engaging more closely with local communities.
- However, they say more effort is still needed to combat poaching for tusks and the trafficking of great apes.

Satellite ‘backpacks’ help keep track of parrot migration in Mexico
- Scientists and conservationists have deployed lightweight satellite backpacks, containing transmitters, to study and understand the migration patterns of thick-billed parrots.
- Teams from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in the U.S. and conservation NGO Organización Vida Silvestre in Mexico have gathered more than 70,000 data points over four years.
- The data helped them identify corridors that are critical for the birds’ movements; they also served to justify the designation of protected areas that are important for the birds.
- Thick-billed parrots, known for their raucous calls, are an endangered species endemic to Mexico; illegal logging in recent years has led to the degradation of their habitats.

Vested interests and social tribes in the Pan Amazon
- Local and regional actors, particularly commercial and landowner elites in mid-sized cities, play an important role in the expansion and improvement of road networks. In Brazil, lobbying by private interests played a big role in the development of Rodovia Transamazônica and BR-319.
- In Brazil, agribusinesses exert political power via the Frente Parlamentar da Agropecuária (FPA), often referred to as the Bancada Ruralista, a multi-party congressional voting bloc.
- One of the most significant accomplishment of the ruralistas was their 2012 campaign to modify Brazil’s the Forest Code. Changes included amnesty for property owners who had illegally deforested land before 2008 and adjusted requirements to reforest portions of landholdings that had exceeded legal deforestation limits.

African Parks closes deal to manage Ethiopia’s Gambella National Park
- South Africa-based conservation NGO African Parks signed a long-term deal in December 2024 to manage Gambella National Park in Ethiopia.
- The agreement brings the number of protected areas under management by African Parks to 23 in 13 countries.
- Gambella is part of a wider landscape that includes Boma and Badilingo national parks, across the border in South Sudan.
- The Gambella region has been conflict-prone in recent years, with a documented history of human rights violations by the Ethiopian government and other groups.

Mongabay documentary spotlights Indigenous alliance to protect Amazon headwaters
Mongabay’s new short documentary The Time of Water premiered Dec. 16 at the Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture, in Spain. Directed by Pablo Albarenga and produced with support from the Pulitzer Center and OpenDemocracy, the 18-minute documentary explores the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance and its fight to protect one of the world’s most vital sources […]
1 lynx dead, 3 quarantined after suspected illegal release in Scotland
What started out as a reported sighting of a pair of Eurasian lynx in the Scottish Highlands has turned out to be an alleged case of “guerrilla rewilding” or, at the very least, illegal release of four individuals of a species long extinct in the area, media reports say. A pair of Eurasian lynx (Lynx […]
Serious groundwater contamination in several parts of India: Report
A recent analysis has revealed that India’s groundwater contains pollutants in excess of permissible limits. This contamination is driven by both natural geochemical processes and human activities like agricultural and industrial practices, reports contributor Esha Lohia for Mongabay India. To understand the state of groundwater in India, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) assessed more […]
Mining in a forest conservation site clouds Republic of Congo’s carbon credit scheme
- The Republic of Congo set up a REDD+ program in the Sangha and Likouala regions, aiming to reduce deforestation and store carbon from 2020 through to 2024.
- However, in the Sangha region alone, the country’s mining minister has issued at least 79 semi-industrial gold mining and exploration permits since the project began.
- Scientists reviewing images of these mining activities condemn the “reckless” destruction of biodiversity.
- The government says the program stored more than 1.5 million metric tons of carbon in 2020, for which it expects to be paid more than $8 million from the World Bank.

Thai farmers demand action to restore ecosystems, compensate for invasive fish
- Citizens rallied in Bangkok this week demanding accountability and action from the government and private corporations following an outbreak of invasive fish that has ravaged Thailand’s freshwater ecosystems and aquaculture industry.
- Blackchin tilapia, an omnivorous species native to West Africa, is highly adaptable, breeds rapidly and is capable of outcompeting native wildlife and commercially farmed species, including shrimp.
- Thailand’s largest agricultural conglomerate has come under scrutiny because it obtained a permit to import the species in 2010, shortly before the first detections in the wild in the same province as its research facility.
- The activists urged the government to eradicate the species, compensate affected farmers and identity the parties responsible for the outbreak.

The paradox of balancing conservation efforts for Himalayan wolves and snow leopards (commentary)
- Although snow leopards cause greater livestock losses than Himalayan wolves, human communities generally show greater tolerance and acceptance toward snow leopards.
- This ‘predator paradox,’ where the more damaging predator is more tolerated, leads to less conservation support for wolves and more for snow leopards.
- “Both snow leopards and wolves are crucial to the Himalayan ecosystem, but conservation has overwhelmingly favored snow leopards. This disparity in attention and resources amplifies the challenges faced by wolves, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to conserve both species effectively,” a new op-ed argues.
- This post is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Mongabay.

Brazil’s Amazon shipping plan faces criticism for environmental and social impact
Brazil is set to approve a controversial expansion of 2,000 kilometers, or more than 1,200 miles, of new shipping channels in the Amazon. With a price tag in the billions of reais, the expansion is needed to ensure cheaper, more efficient transportation of agricultural commodities out of the Amazon, the government says. But an investigation by […]
‘LIFE’ scores map out where habitat loss for crops drives extinction
- Altering natural habitats for agriculture is the single biggest driver of extinctions.
- Land conversion is contributing to what scientists call Earth’s sixth mass extinction.
- Now, new maps link the conversion of landscapes to the risk of extinction for species; they also help identify places where restoration could increase the probability that species will survive.
- The tool works accurately on areas of land ranging from 0.5-1,000 km² (0.2-386 mi²), and could be used by consumers and conservation groups to identify key areas to prioritize for conservation or restoration.

Smart tags reveal migratory bats are storm-front surfers
What’s new: Some bats, like birds, migrate long distances. But these long-distance bat migrations have been somewhat of a mystery to researchers, especially since only a few species embark on them. Now, in a new study, researchers have mapped the odyssey of common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) using innovative tiny trackers. And the results have […]
Nepal’s top court strikes down law allowing development in protected areas
- Nepal’s highest court has scrapped a controversial new law that allowed infrastructure development, such as hotels and cable cars, inside protected areas.
- The law, passed in July, threatened to rezone protected areas to facilitate development projects, and its scrapping has been hailed by opponents as a significant victory for conservation efforts.
- A group of lawyers mounted a legal challenge to the law after its issuance, leading to an interim stay until the ruling.
- The court decision, issued Jan. 15, aligns with the court’s strong track record of prioritizing conservation and human rights, activists note.

Global ocean temperatures set new record in 2024
- Average temperatures across the world’s oceans reached an all-time high in 2024, according to a multi-team study published Jan. 10.
- The temperatures surpassed even those of 2023, which themselves represented a marked uptick over any previous years on record.
- Each of the two main metrics for ocean temperature hit a record high in 2024, while a commonly cited overall metric that accounts for both land and sea temperatures also reached a new high.
- The findings fit with a decades-long trend of ocean heating. The long-term rise is both a result of climate change and a cause of climate change effects like sea-level rise and increased likelihood of extreme weather.

Turn problems into solutions for culture and agriculture across Australia and the Americas, Anthony James says
Anthony James, host of The RegenNarration Podcast, joins Mongabay’s podcast to share news and views on community resilience and land regeneration in both the Americas and Australia. James recounts how some creatures seen as invasive pests in Australia, like donkeys, are actually now being managed in a way that benefits the land, in places like […]
Cameroon aims to double cacao, coffee production, yet also save forests
- The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) and the Cameroon government have signed a $60 million agreement they say will fund the development of cacao and coffee production, as well as protect the country’s forests.
- The fund will support projects aimed at sustainably raising production from existing agricultural land, rather than expanding into forested areas.
- Cameroonian forestry expert Ghislain Fomou says it’s unclear if cacao and coffee production can be increased without causing more deforestation.

1 in 4 freshwater species worldwide at risk of extinction: Study
The most extensive global assessment of freshwater animals to date has revealed that a quarter of all freshwater animal species on the IUCN Red List are threatened with extinction. The largest number of these threatened species are found in East Africa’s Lake Victoria, South America’s Lake Titicaca, Sri Lanka’s Wet Zone, and India’s Western Ghats […]

Lemur species counts for selected parks

Protected Area		Species
Andringitra		13
Zahamena		13
Marojejy		12
Ranomafana		12
Andasibe Mantadia		11
Bemaraha		11
Marotandrano		11
Ankarana		10
Masoala		10
Kirindy Mitea		8
Montagne d'Ambre		8
Namoroka		8
Zombitse-Vohibasia		8
Isalo		7
Kasijy		7
Manombo		7
Pic d'Ivohibe		7
Bay de baly		6
Bemarivo		6
Bora		6
Nosy Mangabe		6
Tampoketsa-Analamaintso		3
Tsimanampetsotsa		3
Ambohijanahary		2

Lemur species

Please note: a number of lemur species have been described since this list was published.

Family	Common name	Scientific name	Local name	Active	Pictures
Cheirogaleidae	Mouse and Dwarf lemurs			Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Hairy-eared Dwarf Mouse-lemur	Allocebus trichotis		Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Southern Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus	Matavirambo	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus crossleyi	Matavirambo	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Greater Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus major	Matavirambo	Nocturnal	+
Cheirogaleidae	Western Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus medius	Matavirambo, Kely Be-ohy, Tsidy, Tsidihy	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Lesser Iron Gray Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus minusculus	Matavirambo	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Greater Iron Gray Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus ravus	Matavirambo	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Sibree's Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus sibreei	Matavirambo	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Gray Mouse-lemur	Microcebus murinus	Tsidy, Koitsiky, Titilivaha, Vakiandri, Pondiky	Nocturnal	+
Cheirogaleidae	Pygmy Mouse-lemur	Microcebus myoxinus	Tsidy	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Golden Mouse-lemur	Microcebus ravelobensis	Tsidy	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Red Mouse-lemur	Microcebus rufus	Anakatsidina, Tsidy, Tsitsidy, Tistsihy	Nocturnal	+
Cheirogaleidae	Giant Mouse-lemur or Coquerel's Mouse-lemur	Mirza coquereli	Tsiba, Tilitilivaha, Siba, Setohy, Fitily	Nocturnal	+
Cheirogaleidae	Amber Mountain Fork-crowned Lemur	Phaner electromontis	Tanta, Tantaraolana	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Masoala Fork-crowned Lemur	Phaner furcifer	Tanta, Tantaraolana	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Western Fork-crowned Lemur	Phaner pallescens	Tanta, Tantaraolana, Vakivoho	Nocturnal
Cheirogaleidae	Sambirano Fork-crowned Lemur	Phaner parienti	Tanta, Tantaraolana	Nocturnal
Daubentoniidae	Aye-aye			Nocturnal
Daubentoniidae	Aye-aye	Daubentonia madagascariensis	Aye-aye, Ahay, Itay-hay, Aiay	Nocturnal
Indridae	Woolly lemurs and allies			Diurnal
Indridae	Eastern Avahi	Avahi laniger	Avahina, Avahy, Ampongy, Fotsifaka	Nocturnal	+
Indridae	Western Avahi	Avahi occidentalis	Fotsife, Tsarafangitra	Nocturnal
Indridae	Indri lemur	Indri indri indri	Babakoto, Amboanala	Diurnal	+
Indridae	Indri lemur	Indri indri variegatus	Babakoto, Amboanala	Diurnal	+
Indridae	Coquerel's Sifaka	Propithecus coquereli	Ankomba malandy, Sifaka, Tsibahaka	Diurnal
Indridae	Crowned Sifaka	Propithecus deckenii coronatus	Tsibahaka, Sifaka	Diurnal
Indridae	Decken's Sifaka	Propithecus deckenii dekenii	Tsibahaka, Sifaka	Diurnal	+
Indridae	Silky Sifaka	Propithecus diadema candidus	Simpona, Simpony	Diurnal
Indridae	Diademed Sifaka	Propithecus diadema diadema	Simpona, Simpony	Diurnal	+
Indridae	Milne-Edwards's Sifaka	Propithecus edwardsi	Simpona, Simpony	Diurnal	+
Indridae	Perrier's Sifaka	Propithecus perrieri	Radjako, Ankomba Job	Diurnal
Indridae	Tattersall's Sifaka	Propithecus tattersalli	Ankomba malandy, Simpona	Diurnal
Indridae	Verreaux's Sifaka	Propithecus verreauxi	Sifaka	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	True lemurs			Diurnal
Lemuridae	White-fronted Lemur	Eulemur albifrons	Varika	Diurnal
Lemuridae	White-collared Lemur	Eulemur albocollaris	Varika	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Red-collared Lemur	Eulemur collaris	Varika	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Crowned Lemur	Eulemur coronatus	Varika	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Brown Lemur	Eulemur fulvus	Varikamavo, Komba	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Black Lemur	Eulemur macaco	Ankomba, Komba	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Blue-eyed Black Lemur	Eulemur macaco flavifrons	Ankomba, Komba	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Mongoose Lemur	Eulemur mongoz	Komba	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Red-bellied Lemur	Eulemur rubriventer	Varikamena	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Red-fronted Lemur	Eulemur rufus	Varika, Varikamavo	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Sanford's Lemur	Eulemur sanfordi	Ankomba, Beharavoaka	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Alaotran Gentle Lemur	Hapalemur alaotrensis	Bandro	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Golden Gentle Lemur	Hapalemur aureus	Varibolomena, Bokombolomena	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Gray Gentle Lemur	Hapalemur griseus	Varibolomadinika	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Sambriano Gentle Lemur	Hapalemur occidentalis	Bekola, Kofi, Ankomba valiha	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Ring-tailed Lemur	Lemur catta	Maki, Hira	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Broad-nosed Gentle Lemur	Prolemur simus	Varibolomavo, Vari, Varikandra	Diurnal
Lemuridae	Red Ruffed Lemur	Varecia rubra	Varimena	Diurnal	+
Lemuridae	Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur	Varecia variegata	Varijatsy	Diurnal	+
Megaladapidae	Sportive lemurs			Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Back-striped Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur dorsalis	Apongy	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Milne-Edwards's Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur edwardsi	Boenga, Boengy, Repahaka	Nocturnal	+
Megaladapidae	White-footed Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur leucopus	Songiky	Nocturnal	+
Megaladapidae	Small-toothed Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur microdon	Trangalavaka, Kotrika or Kotreka, Fitiliky, Itataka, Varikosy	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Mitsinjo Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur mitsinjonensis	Kotrika, Varikosy	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Weasel Lemur	Lepilemur mustelinus	Trangalavaka, Kotrika, Fitiliky, Itataka, Varikosy	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Red-tailed Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur ruficaudatus	Boenga, Boengy	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Ankarana Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur septentrionalis ankaranensis	Mahiabeala, Songiky	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Seal's Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur seali	Songiky	Nocturnal
Megaladapidae	Northern Sportive Lemur	Lepilemur septentrionalis septentrionalis	Mahiabeala, Songiky	Nocturnal