Annual Report 2013

H E L P S I M

Annual U Report 2013 S ©F-G. Grandin The President’s message

In 2013 we continued to support our two major projects: the “Bamboo Lemur” project and the “Ramaimbangy” project.

Last year marked a turning point in the involvement of our Association in the “Bamboo Lemur” project: since it became the co-coordinator of the project in 2012, our Association has been very active in the scientific programme, supervising and financing 4 field studies which improved our knowledge about lemurs and human populations living alongside them.

2013 has also seen several educational projects coming to fruition: the construction of two schools in Vohitrarivo and Sahofika, as well as the organization of the “Simus Festival”.

The Helpsimus team has expanded in France and consolidated in Madagascar with the official appointment of Nary as our local representative, thus allowing our activities to be developed onthe “Bamboo Lemur” project site.

I wish to thank warmly our generous donors and our members without whom none of this would have been possible.

There is still much to do, but together we can change things!

Delphine Roullet Helpsimus President www.helpsimus.org The greater bamboo lemur Prolemur simus

• Distribution: eastern Madagascar.

• Global population in the wild: slightly more than 600 individuals, most of them living outside protected areas.

• Diet: folivorous (bamboo).

• Social system: fission-fusion, but little existing data.

• IUCN status: critically endangered.

©F-G. Grandin Helpsimus Association Française pour la Sauvegarde du Grand Hapalémur (AFSGH) French Association for the Protection of the Greater Bamboo Lemur

Key dates: • 2008: the (future) president met the local stakeholders involved in conserving the greater bamboo lemur in Madagascar.

• 2009: foundation of Helpsimus.

• 2010: funding start of the “Bamboo Lemur” project in Vohitrarivo.

• 2011: new population of greater bamboo lemurs discovered in Vohibe forest thanks to the financial support of Helpsimus.  funding start of the “Ramaimbangy” Project.

• 2012: greater bamboo lemur removed from the World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates.

Activities: HELPSIMUS provides funds for the in situ conservation of greater bamboo lemurs through community-integrated projects and implements conservation awareness programmes for this species in Madagascar and Europe.

HELPSIMUS directly protects about 200 wild greater bamboo lemurs that is to say1/3 of the global population. Its actions allow several dozens of people to be employed in Madagascar and have a direct impact on the improvement of education in the areas where the projects are supported.

©F-G. Grandin PROJECTS THE “BAMBOO LEMUR” PROJECT Location

• Southeastern Madagascar, 4km from Ranomafana National Park, in the rural commune of Tsaratanana.

Bamboo Lemur Project

The site

Ranomafana National Park

Bamboo forests in which lemurs live. Located on the farming land of 3 villages.

Paddy fields

©F-G. Grandin

The “Bamboo Lemur” project is tripartite. It brings together local Malagasy stakeholders (villagers, Ranomafana National Park officials) and Hepsimus. Together, they define the list of priority actions. The Villages

• Vohitrarivo (approx. 1000 inhabitants)

©F-G. Grandin

• Vohimarina (approx. 150 inhabitants)

©F-G. Grandin

• Sahofika (approx. 1000 inhabitants 1700 inhabitants, the most remote village)

©F. Perroux The Villagers

Farmers essentially growing rice, sugar cane, potatoes, manioc, coffee and beans. Extremely poor and completely dependent on their land (on which the greater bamboo lemur lives). They use bamboo as a construction material on a daily basis.

©F-G. Grandin, D. Roullet The Lemurs

In December 2013, the site of the “Bamboo lemur” project holded over 150 individuals divided into 6 groups: • Group II (Vohitrarivo): 62 individuals • Group I (Vohimarina): 37 individuals • Group III (Vohimarina): 9 individuals • Group I (Sahofika): 27 individuals • Group II (Sahofika): 17 individuals •

Since the project was established in 2008, the population of greater bamboo lemurs has recorded over 20 births each year!

22 youngsters were observed in 2013 ©F-G. Grandin Achievements in 2013 “Bamboo Lemur” project Monitoring of the Greater Bamboo Lemurs  Funding the salaries and equipment of 11 local guides (from the 3 villages) Guides’ tasks: • locating groups, • tracking the animals’ movements (GPS) • recording behaviours.

Vohimarina

©D. Roullet

Sahofika

©F-G. Grandin

Vohitrarivo & Vohimarina

©O. Goujon Management of the camp  Management and maintenance of the project’s camp by Mr. Justin (“elder” of the village of Vohitrarivo).

Mr. Justin

 Funding the cook’s salary, responsible for preparing the guides’ and researchers’/students’/volunteers’ meals.

©D. Roullet Scientific studies  Study of feeding behaviour/February to June 2013 Quantifying foods in the greater bamboo lemurs’ diet and assessing foods’ availability (Groups I and II Vohitrarivo).

Conclusion: diet consisting of 6 to 7 varieties of plants, depending on the group. Bamboo mostly consumed except when it becomes more scarce (the animals then turn to other vegetation). Opportunism: consumption of certain crops (sugar cane, manioc). Recommendation: increase awareness of the villagers in order to minimize the disturbance of the lemurs.

©Helpsimus

 Study of the time budget and study of parasites/July to October 2013 Carried out by two biologists from the GERP [Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar] assisted by three French volunteer students during the first month. Conclusion: animals active half of the day (feeding and movements). The more the habitat is fragmented, the more it is used by the Malagasy population and the more the group moves (disturbance?).

©Helpsimus ©D. Roullet  Survey of village residents/October-November 2013 Conclusion: over 95% of the people questioned strongly support the project and the preservation of the greater bamboo lemur and its habitat.

Over 90% of the people think the project will have a positive effect on local development. Some people (over 10%) requested immediate action for water, irrigation of the paddy fields (which are regularly visited by the lemurs), hygiene and health, road improvement... Bamboo is used by all the families to build houses and as fencing for fields and domestic animals.

Most of the families use natural resources from the forest for wood-fuel, medicinal plants, yams, honey, tea and tools. The study suggests to initiate a programme of environmental awareness and education.

 Audit of the guides’ work/October-November 2013 Carried out by Jerome Catinaud, a volunteer veterinarian. Conclusion: improvement of their equipment, establishment of behavioural rules when observing the animals (viewing distance).

©J. Catinaud Discovery of a new group

In August 2013, guides from the “Bamboo Lemur” project reported the presence of a group of greater bamboo lemurs (not recorded until now) in the upper part of the village of Volotara, 3km from Vohimarina.

©F-G. Grandin

 Organization of prospecting mission by Nary Randrianarijaona (our local coordinator).  Presence of a group made up of at least 10 adults confirmed.

This discovery has led us to plan a study in 2014 to determine the size of the overall population on the site of the “Bamboo Lemur” project and its real distribution area.

©F-G. Grandin Raising awareness  The « Simus Festival »/August 2013

Organization and funding of the first “Simus Festival” in Vohitrarivo.

Aim: to bring together all the people involved in the project (villagers, Ranomafana National Park officials and Helpsimus), calling to mind what is gathering us, and to participate in outreach in surrounding villages.

Activities: • soccer competition, • inauguration of the new building of Vohitrarivo school, • broadcasting a film on Group II, • dance party.

©D. Roullet Raising awareness  World Environment Day (WED)

• 3rd participation. • Helpsimus sponsor of the event.

Activities: • parade of the “Bamboo lemur” project team, • booth providing information.

©N. Randrianarijaona Raising awareness  Brittany–Martinique Transatlantic Race

Participation in the thanks to the skipper Eric Baray (from Martinique) who chose to support Helpsimus. He initiated fundraising for the renovation of a classroom in Sahofika school.

With his support and that of the Karibea hotel chain, the new classroom was inaugurated in November 2013 (see next page). The classroom in May 2012 ©D. Roullet

November 2013: inauguration of the new classroom in Sahofika.

©F-G. Grandin Aid for Education  Construction and inauguration of two schools at Sahofika and Vohitrarivo

©F-G. Grandin ©C. Robert Activities: • organization and funding of the official opening of the buildings at Sahoika and Vohitrarivo, • funding of school supplies for the 300 pupils in the primary schools of Vohitrarivo, Vohimarina and Sahofika, • funding of materials for the teachers, • funding of the salary for a substitute (Vohitrarivo school), • awards for the best pupils.

©D. Roullet Aid for Education  Twinning of the French primary school in Rioz (Franche-Comté) with Sahofika school in Madagascar

Activity: • exchange of drawings about the children’s daily life.

©C. Robert, J. Catinaud Development Assistance  Support for the creation of a VOI (village association)

A VOI – basic local community – is a grouping of villagers organized in a legal form and to which the State transfers the management of the forest areas where the groupings live. Creating this VOI will allow the local management of the project to be transferred to the villagers and will lead to a management plan for the project’s site.

Training with others associations ©PBL

Activities: • training with other associations of villagers financed, • construction of a liaison office (currently being completed). Delay is due to discussions on the choice of location and materials. It will house the VOI and various training sessions.

Training with others associations ©PBL Development Assistance  Support for microprojects

• Purchase of seeds for developing vegetable crops. Problem: seeds were apparently of bad quality and the harvests have not had the desired results.

• Construction of a shelter at Vohimarina to protect the water fountain. And also…. Nary Randrianarijaona

In 2013, Nary Randrianarijaona became the official local representative of Helpsimus (partnership with the GERP).

In 2013 he carried out 6 missions at the “Bamboo Lemur” project site to: © O. Goujon • help to researchers and biologists who work on scientific studies, • oversee the building of the schools, • to organize the school inauguration, the “Simus Festival” and Helpsimus’ participation in WED, • to organize and participate in prospecting for searching the new group, • to interact with Ranomafana National Park officials and the guides of the project, to purchase various materials…

©O. Goujon ©F-G. Grandin “Jean-Yves Robert” Grant

©F-G. Grandin

The “Jean-Yves Robert” Grant was created in 2012 in memory of our friend Jean-Yves Robert who died on July 29th, 2011. He had been in charge of the collections at the Natural history Museum of Besançon from 1991 to 2011 and was fascinated by Madagascar. He worked strenuously for the protection of greater bamboo lemurs and more generally for lemurs. He also created the design of the cuddly toy “Fitia”, our mascot…

In 2013, the “Jean-Yves Robert” Grant was awarded to the “Bamboo Lemur” project for the study of the feeding behaviour of greater bamboo lemurs. THE “RAMAIMBANGY” PROJECT

©TAF Location

• At the confluence of the Nosilovo and Mangoro rivers in eastern Madagascar, in the non-classified forest of Vohibe (rural commune of Ambinanidalana).

• Area of the zone = 500 hectares.

Project created in 2012 after the discovery of a new population of greater bamboo lemurs in Vohibe forest.

Population located halfway between Northern and Southern populations. This discovery confirmed the continuous distribution of the species in its geographical range.

The project is coordinated by The Aspinall Foundation (TAF). It is led by TAF and GERP (in association with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, also present in the area) and financed by TAF and Helpsimus.

©TAF 2013 Activities “Ramaimbangy” project Participatory Environmental Monitoring

Aims: • description of the greater bamboo lemur population • eco-ethological study • identification of the threats • development of an appropriate conservation strategy

2 missions completed in May and December.

 Study of the dynamic of the greater bamboo lemur population of Vohibe

Difficulties:bad condition of the road which worsened during the rainy season + very rough research terrain (animal tracking extremely difficult), presence of diseases (bilharzia, malaria, plague, dengue fever) and insecurity (illegal mining).

Results: 4 species of lemurs of 6 present in the area observed (P. simus, E. fulvus, Hapalemur spp. and Microcebus spp.). No precise data on group size (challenging observation due to rough terrain and frequent presence of villagers in the forest). Traces of feeding and faeces only in certain locations within the forest. Considerable deterioration of the habitat, constant anthropogenic pressure weakening the species and contributing to its disappearance.

 Study of threats

• High hunting pressure (of lemurs and other animals) with dogs, traps, slingshots...

• Loss of habitat: land clearing (slash-and-burn agriculture) and conversion of the forest into farming or livestock grazing, illegal production of wood-fuel.

• Habitat disturbance: significant human presence in the forest (pathways, gathering, livestock grazing...), aggressive behaviour towards lemurs.

• No legal status for the forest of Vohibe (not classified).

Aims: • to understand the relationships between humans and their environment (wildlife interactions with socio-economic and cultural elements), to convey basic information about the environment (ozone, water, etc.); • to better understand humans’ responsibility on their environment and act accordingly; • to better know the lemur species and their ecological importance in the forest; • to know the importance of the forest, the consequences of destroying it and to act accordingly.

Two missions in 2013 funded by the “Bettina Sallé” Prize created in memory of our friend Dr Bettina Sallé who passed away on April 11th, 2013.

 Environmental education in Public Primary Schools

Assignments located in the three villages that put the strongest pressure on the forest (Maromitety, Ambinanidilana and Ambalafatsy). Targets: Public Primary Schools, members of local associations and villagers.

Activities: Distribution of 1000 copybooks (with photos of lemurs on the cover and short message about their conservation), speeches, play activities (quizzes, sketches, games), multiple choice questions.

Study carried out by the GERP. Aims: Inventory, ethological monitoring and description of the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) and the western lesser bamboo lemur (H. occidentalis) in Sector IV of the Park.

Conclusion: no greater bamboo lemurs observed. 5 groups of western lesser bamboo lemurs identified (18 individuals).

 Creation and funding of an identification poster for the greater bamboo lemur and the western lesser bamboo lemur In association with the GERP. In French and Malagasy.  International Prosimian Congress

International Prosimian Congress attendance from 5 to 9 August at the ValBio Centre (in Ranomafana, Madagascar).

• Event sponsoring. • Poster exhibition on Helpsimus’s activities for the conservation of the greater bamboo lemur. • Booth shared with Sifaka Conservation.

Supply of folivorous pellets (in association with Mazuri) which are an essential source of protein for the diet of greater bamboo lemurs in Ivoloina Zoo.

Birth of a 2nd baby on October 25th, 2013. Its mother, Bekily, was the first greater bamboo lemur born in Europe to be returned to the land of her origins (In 2010 and 2011, Helpsimus helped funded the cost of Bekily and Théthys*’ transport). *sire of the newborn

 

Number of current members up to date with their dues at 31 December 2013: 34

New Membership Form

[email protected]  Our Sponsors Since 2009, Helpsimus has been:

• discovering a new population and several groups of wild greater bamboo lemurs

• protecting 1/3 of the wild population of greater bamboo lemurs

• funding 4 field studies

• funding salaries for 20 assistants from local communities and for a Malagasy coordinator

• building 2 schools

• sending over 1000 textbooks to Madagascar

• funding annual school supplies for over 300 pupils of primary school

• supporting about 10 microprojects on development aid. 2012: the Greater Bamboo Lemur was removed from the list of the World’s 25 most endangered primates!

©F-G. Grandin  Balance sheet Year Income Expenditure Operating Total (donations, expenses expenses membership (banking fees, per annum subscriptions “Bamboo “Ramaim- Others Awareness/ Ex situ purchase and Lemur” bangy” (Zahamena, Education (transport of office sponsorship, Project Project Southern Europe and of greater supplies, derivatives) Midongy) Madagascar bamboo insurance) lemurs)

2010 3950.20 1500.00 66.00 1566.00 2011 21075.97 8824.46 5250.00 2300.00 584.44 500.00 803.87 18262.77 2012 34338.78 11202.51 8600.00 500.00 972.14 513.80 21788.45 2013 25694.52 18562.90 7000.00 2000.00 1880.00 724.78 30167.68 TOTAL 85059.47 40089.87 20850.00 4800.00 3436.58 500.00 2108.45 71784.90