Madagascar is a biodiversity anomaly. Because of the island’s geography, geology and climate, species have been able to evolve and diversify in isolation. This means that the species that live there have been evolving in seclusion for millions of years. Today, we want to tell you about the critically endangered indri lemur, which is in danger of extinction.

We can’t stand by and let these animals go the way of the dodo.

We must help, and here is how!

A lemur is a uniquely evolved mammal closely related to a primate, and a staggering 80% of lemurs’ home forests have been wiped out by deforestation. The island is home to 70 species of lemurs found nowhere else on earth, except small neighboring islands near Madagascar. Indri lemurs are famed for their loud vocalizations and communicate with each other through song.

We MUST help them, and with your support, WE WILL!

As a result of their habitat being destroyed, today indris are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are one of the 25 most endangered primates globally.

The indri is found only in remote parts of northeastern Madagascar. Habitat destruction, primarily attributed to slash-and-burn farming, a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland, is indiscriminately killing the animals that live there.

If their habitat continues to be destroyed at its current rate, this Madagascan lemur species will be wiped out indefinitely. We MUST support crucial indri conservation and reforestation efforts before it is too late – every second counts.

Some scientists estimate that there are as little as 1,000 indri lemurs left, and if they continue to be annihilated at the current rate, soon they will all be gone. This would be a tragedy, and we need to do as much as we can to ensure their survival.

We plan to preserve the species by protecting a breeding pair, while working on the long-term problem of deforestation.

We have chosen to work with L’Homme et l’Environnement, a French non-governmental organization (NGO) that works tirelessly on lemur conservation through long-term forest preservation and biodiversity.

As part of these conservation efforts, the NGO recently identified and captured a breeding pair in the hopes of protecting their offspring. Their previous habitat had been destroyed by slash-and-burn farming.

L’Homme et l’Environnement acted fast and quickly moved the breeding pair, later named Jack and Rose, to their new home in the Vohimana forest. They now will be protected by a forest guard unit, whose job is to monitor illegal activities and protect the forest from slash-and-burn farming and illegal miners and loggers.

If we manage to raise $10,000 (£8,000), we can better equip the guards with tools like GPS trackers and communication devices. Eventually, we aim to increase the number of guards.

Your support is critical to the survival of the highly threatened indri lemur species.

Indris (called ‘babakoto’ in Malagasy) are famous for their loud calls across forests and incredible leaping ability. With black tufted ears and patches of white fur on their crown, these creatures are beautiful and graceful as they move through the canopy treetops.

The heartbreaking reality is that once they are gone, the songs they sing to each other and the beauty they bring to the world will be lost. Please help us ensure our children can view these animals as they should be – in their natural habitat, behaving as a lemur should. It’s the right thing to do!

There is hope. We know what we need to do to prevent lemur extinction, and we have a plan in place. Please support us in this critical work by donating now.

We have a concise window of time. If current trends continue, we will lose the opportunity to save many species in the Critically Endangered and Endangered categories, including the precious indri species.

There is no more time to lose, but we cannot achieve our goal without your help. If you support us, we can help ensure Madagascar’s indris thrive for generations to come. Please, be as generous as you can so we can get the extra protection for the indris right now!