Sifaka : less than 1000 specimens alive

Erik Patel, an American researcher, is trying to protect one of the rarest species of mammals in the world, the white lemur, also known as the Silky Sifaka. With less than 1000 specimens still alive, the white lemur is considered one of the rarest mammals on earth by scientists. Erik Patel, a scientist from Cornell University, explains that according to the report of the Smithsonian Magazine, “there may be even 100 of them left today”.

Thus, it has been years that this passionate researcher conducted specific studies on these small mammals in the Marojejy National Park in Madagascar. The biggest threat that is currently looming over the Silky Sifaka is human activity. Actually, while being hunted by men for their meat, the lemurs also have to face the destruction of their natural habitat, because much of the forests where they inhabit are also illegally cut by loggers or burned and converted into rice fields.

In response to that, Erik Patel tries to get the support of several local communities to convince loggers to stop cutting down trees. He has, for instance, sensitized children from surrounding villages by taking them to observe the lemurs and hired many villagers to chase after illegal loggers. According to him, unless the destruction of their habitat witnesses a rapid decrease, the white lemur could become a real ghost. “We don’t have much time left,” he despairs.