2019 Annual Report

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2019 Annual report

For the Protection of the Greater Bamboo Lemur Our vision To find a lasting balance between the needs of the lemurs and those of the local communities that surround them. Our values To listen, understand and act while respecting Malagasy tradition and culture. To support the populations in their work towards sustainable development. To provide the lemurs a future in a habitat that is appropriate for them.

HELPSIMUS was founded in November 2009. Its mission was to protect the Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus) in Madagascar through the “Bamboo Lemur” Programme that combines scientific monitoring of the species, protection of its habitat, supporting the development of the nearby villages and financing the education of the local children.

The Greater Bamboo Lemur is one of the most threatened lemurs of Madagascar. In the past it was spread widely all over the island, but it is now only found in the humid forests of the East where slightly over a thousand individuals have been recorded.

01 The President’s Message Page 6 02 Helpsimus Page 7 Key Dates Helpsimus The Bamboo Lemur Programme The Fokontany The Villagers The Greater Bamboo Lemur The Greater Bamboo Lemurs on the site 03 The Environmental Component Page 14 The Guides Monitoring the Greater Bamboo Lemurs Monitoring the Red-Bellied Lemurs Monitoring the Ranomafana Bamboo Lemurs The Dog Problem The Camera Traps Plant Inventory The VOI Reforestation 04 Lemur Raids on Crops Page 19 05 The Education Component Page 20 The Simus Festival The Schools Avotra, the Lemur of the Bamboos 4200kg of Equipment for Madagascar! Families, forests and Lemurs: all together! 06 Recruitment of an Educator Page 23 07 The Socio-Economic Component Page 24 Vegetable crops Fish Farming Tree Nurseries Craftwork Electricians Without Borders Helpsimus’s Camps The Roadway 08 Ecotourism Project Page 27 © F. Perroux 09 Helpsimus News Page 28 Conference Documentaries Prim’Arts Festival 10 Helpsimus Tour Page 30 11 Partners Page 32 12 Financial Statements Page 33

4 Cover: © F. Perroux 5 2019 THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE KEY DATES ANNUAL REPORT

“The reproduction season was exceptional! 74 Greater Helpsimus starts the programme to protect the paddy fields Bamboo Lemurs were born in the 11 groups we follow - 2019 | This is to find lasting solutions for protecting crops from attacks by the Greater a record! Bamboo Lemurs and thus to reduce conflicts.

The population of Greater Bamboo Lemurs protected | Helpsimus confirms the presence of Ring-tailed Mongoose 2018 Inventories show the presence of rich and varied flora and fauna on the pro- by Helpsimus now comprises around 500 individuals.” gramme’s site.

Helpsimus identifies 4 new species of lemurs within the area it studies 2017 | The programme site is host to at least 5 different species in addition to the Greater Bamboo Lemurs. © F. Perroux For the second consecutive year, conflicts between lemurs and villagers an educator and launched our | Helpsimus co-ordinates the creation of the 1st of the 3 VOI planned for the the reproduction season has been by launching the project to protect environmental education programme. 2016 site of the Bamboo Lemur Programme exceptional: 74 greater bamboo the paddy fields that are regularly We organized the 7th Simus Festival This is the Miaradia VOI which covers the territory of 6 of the 11 groups of lemurs were born in the in the 11 pillaged by the Greater Bamboo during which we celebrated our tenth Greater Bamboo Lemurs. groups that we follow, a record! The Lemurs. The initial results from the anniversary. population protected by Helpsimus guarding that began in October are Helpsimus organizes the 3rd International Technical Workshop on the now comprises about 500 individuals. very encouraging. Finally, we have started the renovation 2015 | Greater Bamboo Lemur of the track between Ifanadiana On this occasion, the population of the species is re-assessed at 1000 The team of guides has again We have continued to support the and Vohitrarivo which had become individuals in the wild, ¼ of which are directly protected by Helpsimus! expanded enabling us to monitor beneficiaries of our agricultural impassable. 2019 was the starting year 3 additional species of lemurs development programme and have of major projects and works which will | The Greater Bamboo Lemur is removed from the list of the 25 most (including a new group of Peyrieras’s completed the first phrase of the continue in 2020. 2012 threatened primates in the world Woolly Lemur or Peyrieras’s Avahi), project to improve the irrigation of This year the scientific monitoring of the groups started. 1 carnivorous species and 3 bird the crops which benefit about forty None of this would have been possible species. Our inventories have also families. without the support of our partners | Funding of the “Bamboo Lemur” Programme starts revealed the presence of new species and donors. We are extremely grateful 2010 Identification of the various groups of Greater Bamboo Lemurs starts as well as including several mammals. We have continued to help 5 to them and take this opportunity to recording of births. schools in the programme including thank them. We assist the VOI with their Annual renovating a classroom for the | Foundation of the French Association for the Protection of the Greater Work Programme (AWP) and amongst kindergarten at Sahofika, starting the 2009 Bamboo Lemur, called “Helpsimus” other activities have organized the construction of a new school building Partners have to be found to finance the first activities onsite. first reforesting campaign with forest at Ambodimanga, electrification of the species, with over 6000 seedlings schools of Sahofika and Ambodigoavy, planted! In parallel, we are continuing and supporting some of the costs of The (future) president meets the local stakeholders involved in conserving our fight against illegal fires. the new teachers… 2008 | the Greater Bamboo Lemur in Madagascar They inform her of the critical situation of the species and ask for her help in We have made efforts to resolve the We have recruited and trained preventing the Greater Bamboo Lemur of becoming extinct. Delphine Roullet 6 7 2019 HELPSIMUS THE BAMBOO LEMUR PROGRAMME ANNUAL REPORT

Helpsimus is based close to the These are based around three main and we facilitate access to education Location National Park of Ranomafana but components: for the children from villages located 390 km south east of Antananarivo, 4 km from in an unprotected zone, located - Environmental component in the Fokontany involved in the the National Park of at the heart of the agricultural We identify the priority conservation project. Ranomafana, in the rural land of several villages inhabited areas on the programme site by area of Tsaratanana, in the by the largest wild population of improving knowledge about the province of Fianarantsoa. Greater Bamboo Lemurs (nearly eco-ethology of the species and The conservation activities 500 specimens of an overall total of by working on resolving conflicts are concentrated on the slightly more than 1200 individuals). between humans and the lemurs. land of the “Fokontany” of Vohitrarivo, Sahofika, The aim of our “Bamboo Lemur” - Socio-Economic component Ambodimanga, Ambodigoavy and Programme is to find a balance We are improving the standard of Ambohipo. between the needs of humans living of the local populations by and those of the lemurs, so the helping to secure the products of local communities and wild their harvest and improve yield, fauna can cohabit in harmony. developing new Revenue Generating The bamboo lemur programme is a tripartite project. Activities, building infrastructure It brings together local Malagasy stakeholders (villagers, agents of the National Park of To achieve this aim, we are and means of communication, Ranomafana) and Helpsimus who define together the list of priority actions. developing a strategy consisting of: and implementing better hygiene 1. Protecting the lemurs’ habitat practices to improve the health of (thanks especially to the creation the communities. of the VOI); 2. Giving the local communities - Educational component Ranomafana National Park sufficient resources to protect We develop activities to improve the lemurs’ habitat. This consists awareness among local communities of improving the standard of living of the local population by supporting actions to secure Bamboo forests located on the agriculatural land the products of their harvests of several villages and in which the lemurs live and to increase the yield and by developing new Revenue Generating Activities. The Greater Bamboo Lemurs’ habitat, comprising mostly bamboo forests on which they feed almost exclusively, is very badly damaged by “tavy” (slash-and-burn cultivating). We are therefore implementing a certain number of conservation Paddy fields activities to ensure the long term survival of this species.

8 © F. Perroux © S. Meys 9 2019 THE FOKONTANY THE VILLAGERS ANNUAL REPORT

The Bamboo Lemur programme works with 5 Fokontany. The villagers are farmworkers that grow mainly rice, sugar case, potatoes, manioc, coffee, beans. They are extremely This is the smallest administrative unit in Madagascar that general groups together several villages. We also work poor and entirely dependent on their land where the greater bamboo lemurs live. They use bamboo daily as a with the Municipality of Tsaratanana which controls these 5 Fokontany. construction material.

Fokontany of Vohitrarivo Fokontany of Sahofika

The programme’s main camp, around 20 The most isolated village which hosts our minutes’ walk from the village. The territory Fokontany of Ambodigoavy secondary camp. Territory of Groups V, VI of Groups I, I’, II, II’ and III. and VII.

Fokontany of Ambodimanga 3rd Helpsimus camp and territory of Groups VIIII and IX. Fokontany of Ambohipo

Territory of Group II. Territory of Group IV.

10 © F. Perroux, D. Roullet 11 © F. Perroux, S. Meys THE GREATER BAMBOO 2019 THE GREATER BAMBOO LEMUR LEMURS IN TERRAIN ANNUAL REPORT

Distribution Area In December 2019 the site of the Bamboo Humid forests of eastern Madagascar Lemur Programme hosted a population of about 500 Greater Bamboo Lemurs of which Global population in the wild 452 individuals distributed among 11 groups Approximately 1200 individuals and monitored by our teams.

Diet 74 births were recorded. Folivorous (bamboo) This is the second consecutive year in which we have counted such a high number of new-borns. Social system Fission-fusion (but little existing data) Group VII which has grown beyond 60 individuals has divided into two groups of 28 and 34 IUCN1 status members. In addition, the individuals of groups Critically endangered VIII and IX regularly disperse which makes it more complicated to count them. The numbers in group IX are therefore probably underestimated, about a dozen additional individuals were observed a few weeks before the most recent GROUP NUMBERS I 72 (including 11 infants) 1International Union for Conservation of Nature inventory of December 2019. I’ 27 (including 4 infants)

Finally, new groups of Greater Bamboo Lemurs II 75 (including 14 infants) were discovered during the inventory of the Red- II’ 42 (including 7 infants) bellied Lemurs.

III 35 (including 6 infants)

All these elements therefore lead us to think IV 19 (including 4 infants) that the population of Greater Bamboo Lemurs present within our area of study is V 56 (including 4 infants) close to 500 individuals.

VI 50 (including 9 infants) Helpsimus supports the in situ protection of Nearly 500 lemurs are today protected by the the Greater Bamboo Lemur through projects actions of the association. VII 28 (including 5 infants) integrating local communities. VIII 25 (including 4 infants) Its actions in the field allow several dozens of HELPSIMUS also leads awareness programmes people to be employed in Madagascar and have a to educate about the protection of this species in IX 23 (including 6 infants) direct impact on the improvement of education in Madagascar and Europe. the areas of activity of the projects we support. TOTAL 452 (including 74 infants)

12 © F. Perroux 13 © F. Perroux, S. Meys Environmental component

- Identifying the priority conservation areas and finding a balance between the needs of the lemurs and those of the local communities, while improving knowledge about the eco-ethology of the species and by working on resolving conflicts between humans and the lemurs. -

The guides month. Their duties are defined as Finally, two guides were started in October 2019. This Monitoring the Ranomafana follows: promoted to become team was done by 3 tour guides (see Bamboo Lemurs • Following the groups: leaders. They are Jacky (the guide “the Ecotourism Project”) who A third assessment of the locating the animals and who has been with us the longest were helped at the start by 2 eco- habituation of the group of determining their territory and is the most experienced who volunteers. In fact it is essential Ranomafana Bamboo Lemurs (use of GPS), counting them is also continuing to monitor the to have optimal conditions for living on the territory of Group (regularly updating the Ranomafana Bamboo Lemurs) observing these 2 species in II was completed between mid- inventories), recording threats and Riry who helps our consultant the area of forest that has been September and mid-October (presence of dogs or traps) in the project to protect the We have also been able to identify selected for the eco-tourism by our volunteer Emmeline and raids by the lemurs on paddy fields and who supervises several individuals in the sub- project. Ferrand. And the results are very In 2019, we hired 5 new guides: crops; the team of guards. Riry also group that is currently detached encouraging! Monitoring the Red-Bellied • 1 guide to strengthen • fending off lemurs from the coordinates the habituation of the from Group II. From May to July Lemurs monitoring of Group I’ (until crops; Woolly lemurs at Vohitrarivo. 2019, a study on reproduction Monitoring of the Red-bellied now monitored by only one • accompanying the scientific was completed on Group VIII by a Lemurs in the territory of Group V guide); teams and eco-volunteers; Like every year, the guides’ Malagasy biologist (currently being has continued. • 2 guides to reinforce the team • participating in inventories. equipment was updated. analysed). at Sahofika responsible for monitoring Group V and Red- At Sahofika,two teams each of Monitoring the Greater Bamboo Group VIII comprising about bellied Lemurs; three people take turns tracking Lemurs fifteen individuals at the time of • 2 guides to start monitoring Group V and the Red-bellied With the births in 2019, the the study is among the groups a new group of Peyrieras’ Lemurs. This reinforcement numbers in Groups I and II are that is the most present in our We are now spending less time Woolly Lemur (Avahi peyrierasi) of the team has allowed the now over 70 individuals. However, area of activity. The results of this finding the animals: on average discovered in June 2019 monitoring of the two species to a dozen individuals in Group II are study will be compared to those 52 minutes compared to 2 hours at Vohitrarivo. At the end be separated. To reiterate, the isolating themselves increasingly of Group II comprising about sixty in 2017 and 2018. In addition, of the year they began to section of forest in which these and may separate from it individuals. the duration of visual contact is We also inventoried the species accustom the animals to two groups live has been chosen definitively in the coming months. on average 3 times longer than in in about thirty areas of forest nocturnal observation and the for the eco-tourism project. As already mentioned above, 2019, about 34 minutes compared within our conservation site. The preparations for a research The work on identifying individuals we have reinforced monitoring to about 12 minutes in 2018 and presence of about ten groups has project that should be A team of two guides is in the Group II continued between of Group V by recruiting 2 new only 4 minutes in 2017. been confirmed, totalling about launched in 2020 were begun. responsible for habituating a September and November with guides allowing us to separate thirty individuals. group of Ranomafana Bamboo Manon Gautier (volunteer). The the monitoring of the Greater In addition, once the group of The team of guides today Lemurs that began in October updating of existing records and Bamboo Lemurs from that of lemurs has been reached, we This work was done by an Italian comprises 32 people from the 2017. recognizing new individuals, has the Red-bellied Lemurs. In fact, spend on average nearly 40% of primatologist, Alessio Anania and villages of Vohitrarivo, Vohimarina, led to the identification today Group V comprising nearly 60 the time of the outing with them. will be the subject of a publication Ambohipo, Ambodimanga, Two teams of 2 guides follow of over thirty Greater Bamboo individuals divides regularly into The observation distance is still in the near future. Volotara, Ambodigoavy and two groups of Peyrieras’ Woolly Lemurs in Group II. 2 or 3 subgroups which makes greater than with the Greater Sahofika. Lemurs at Volotara and at monitoring very complicated, Bamboo Lemurs: only 1/3 of the While doing his field work, Alessio Vohitrarivo. The two groups are This identification is essential to especially as the lemurs became observations are at a distance also discovered 2 new groups 12 teams of 2 guides follow composed respectively of 5 and 6 understand how large groups more distant some time ago. An of less than 10 metres (like in of Greater Bamboo Lemurs 11 groups of Greater Bamboo individuals including 3 new-borns. operate and to evaluate their assessment of the habituation 2018 compared to less than comprising about ten individuals Lemurs for 2 to 4 weeks every needs. of the group was consequently 4% in 2017). However, it is not each.

16 © S. Meys 17 © F. Perroux 2019 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT ANNUAL REPORT always easy to follow them in the They also maintain a register species specifically soon to better We have obtained videos of Inventory of flora circuit. vegetation. recording each attack by dogs. understand their cohabitation. tenrecs. At least 3 species are The inventory of flora which was They seem to happen most during present on the site of the Bamboo started in 2018 has continued this In 2020 we will continue the plant The group is today comprised of the birthing season, when the Lemur Programme. However our year at Volotara on the territory inventories in other areas of the 5 individuals: the parents, their lemurs are less mobile due to videos do not allow more precise of Group VII and was carried out Bamboo Lemur Programme. subadult daughter, a youth born the presence of the new-borns. A identification. by the botanist from the NGO in 2017 and another in 2018. The study will be carried out in 2020 IMPACT. The VOIs subadult male which had joined to evaluate the level of threat that The presence of a new species Helpsimus is the supporting the group in 2018 is no longer the dogs represent for the Greater of small mammal has been The vegetation on the territory of organization for the creation of with them at the moment. A new Bamboo Lemurs. confirmed in the fragment of Group VIII is varied. In fact there the VOI1 and consequently the baby was noted, but its presence forest at Sahofika! It isNesomys are bamboo forests, secondary project coordinator. The camera traps has not been confirmed. Monitoring of the Ring-tailed audeberti, a diurnal terrestrial forests but also primary forest The camera traps have continued Mongoose continued, especially rodent. (not intact) which host many The creation of these VOIs is an to provide many videos/photos The dog problem on the territory of Group II where endemic species of plant: Ravenala important step for the Bamboo of the lemurs but also of other Dogs are regularly noted on the we have identified a couple. We have installed nesting madagascariensis, Dalbergia spp, Lemur Programme since it animals especially of Ring-tailed territory of Groups I, I’, II, II’ and III. On their territory we have also boxes in several locations Dyospiros spp (Malagasy precious provides the first level of a Mongoose and numerous birds. They provoke instances of panic found the Indian Civet which our where microcebuses have been woods) and varied ligneous village association to which the within the groups. The individuals camera traps film regularly. The observed, more particularly on species. forestry administration transfers We have begun to monitor a disperse and sometimes they take monitoring of the mongoose will the territory of Group II. We hope the management of the natural female Madagascar Long-eared several hours or even days to find improve our understanding of the lemurs will use them and Many species of animal live in resources present on its land. Owl who lives and reproduces on each other. how the two species cohabit. that we will be able to recuperate these forests where the 6 species Protection not only for the Greater the territory of Group V. When these disturbances occur, hairs easily without capturing any of lemur identified on the site of Bamboo Lemurs but also and it is impossible to observe the We have also identified a second animals. Genetic analyses will then the Bamboo Lemur Programme above all for their habitat. The We have confirmed the presence animals as they are then too wary. area of observation of mongoose be carried out to determine the can been observed amongst VOIs also give responsibility to of Red-fronted Coua (Coua in the Sahofika forest area where species of microcebuses present others. the villagers and consolidate their Reynaudii) in the fragment of forest another couple has been filmed. on our site. commitment to protect this lemur. at Sahofika where Group V of the Added to this diversity is the Greater Bamboo Lemurs lives. Finally, bats were living in the presence of many view points We have asked the GERP and the Their territory also hosts a second school at Ambodigoavy where they (on the national park, over the NGO IMPACT to lead the process coua species, the Blue Coua (Coua have caused significant damage. villages). A second tourist circuit, for the creation of the three VOIs caerulea) which is much more This is why we have made them which is slightly more difficult Two VOIs have already been set arboreal than the Red-fronted a nesting box that we installed than at Sahofika, could therefore up of the 3 needed to cover our Coua. outside the school. The idea is be created in the future on the area of activity and the third will Noret and Sambatra, the 2 guides to dislodge the animals gently territory of Group VIII. The botanist be made official in 2020. Our camera traps had already of Group II (which suffers most by offering a better dormitory. has already proposed a route. recorded videos of Red-fronted of the attacks from dogs), have The preliminary results of this A camera trap has also been The plans for these 2 VOIs have Coua on the territory of Group II continued to work one after the monitoring were also illustrated in installed to follow the movement The botanist has also recorded made it possible to promote but this is the first time we have other during the weekends to a poster presented at the annual of the animals. much damage that should be over 630 hectares of forest to observed the two species in ensure a permanent presence in conference of the EAZA held in reduced with the creation of the the same area of forest. We are 1 Village association to which the forestry admin- the forest. September in Valencia. VOI and the creation of a tourist istration transfers the management of the natural hoping to start monitoring the 2 resources present on its lands.

18 © F. Perroux, HELPSIMUS 19 © HELPSIMUS 2019 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT ATTACKS ON CROPS BY THE LEMURS RAPPORTANNUAL ANNUELREPORT the status of conservation and and SAMIVAR). The project to protect expected effect on the animals). These two attacks followed the restoration areas. the paddy fields that we division of Group II into two sub- In addition, we support the commissioned from Maryline Since the crops are damaged groups (harder to follow) during Annual Work Programme (AWP) André (consultant - Varika mainly when the rice grains are the reproducing season. The size of each VOI. We have for example Conservation) started in April. mature, 24 hour guarding of the of the group grew then, reaching contributed to the creation of a paddy fields ready to be harvested over 70 individuals. patrol responsible for checking Five groups of Greater Bamboo was introduced in October 2019. deforestation. The forestry patrols Lemurs are involved in the attacks: 12 guards were recruited and In addition, the Greater Bamboo ensure that the members of Groups I, I’ and II which live on the trained by Maryline André. They Lemurs use the footbridge that the VOI comply with the rules same territory, as well as Groups work in teams of 2, replacing was created on the large paddy regarding deforestation. The team During the year, 3476 plans of II and II’. These groups live in the each other 24 hours a day from field of Sarebonotra (territory of of patrollers is comprised of 11 forestry species were planted at most damaged areas, where the November to June to supervise the Group II). individuals from the VOI MIARADIA Vohitrarivo and 2701 at Sahofika, human pressure on their habitat is paddy fields with mature grains and 16 from the VOI SAMIVAR. The for a total of 6177. the greatest and many cultivated and until they are harvested. patrols take place twice a month parcels are included there, and the results are recorded in a The plants were planted by the especially paddy fields. monitoring book. The patrollers VOI and nurseries and also during are trained by our partner IMPACT the special days with the support On average, the attacked areas which then oversees their work. of our team. are 30% destroyed (ranging from 10% to 80%). Group II causes the It should be noted that we have Maintenance of the nurseries with greatest damage on the large begun construction of the Maison the 4 nursery staff continued and paddy field of Sarebonotra. Less de Vie “SAMIVAR” which will house we supported the agronomist damage is caused to sugar cane the headquarters of the village technician. The Volotara nursery fields (10%). The system of guards is On the territory of Group II’, it association and where training will be created in 2020 after accompanied by limited clearing has proved sufficient to prune and environmental education the 3rd VOI is made official at around the paddy fields (to to protect certain parcels of rice activities will also be organized. Ambodigoavy. improve visibility for the guards) and to block the passage of the and installation of passages in the Greater Bamboo Lemurs. No areas where the lemurs pass. clearing is done here because the scrub which is partly low shelters Riry, a former guide and assistant chameleons that reproduce there. to Maryline in the terrain was trained to manage the We have also distributed posters Following our consultant’s team of guards and to deploy in the villages explaining to people examination of the situation, them according to the level of how to deter the lemurs from done between April and June, we maturity of the rice. The results their crops. Reforestation decided with her to test guarding are very encouraging since in In 2019, we organized our first the crops, a solution that appears December 2019, only 2 parcels reforestation campaign of forest today to be the most appropriate at Sarebonotra (Group II) were species. Over twenty species were for the problem encountered attacked and destroyed to a level planted in each VOI (MIARADIA (the scarecrow did not have the of 10%.

20 © S. Meys, N. Randrianarijaona 21 © M. André, S. Meys Educational component

- Developing activities to sensitise local communities and facilitate access to education for the chidren from villages that are partners in the programme. -

We work with 5 schools, it is distributed free of charge to The school canteen of Sahofika, which has has paid for it. Sahofika, Vohitrarivo, the children (ages 9-11) of the 5 fully financed by Helpsimus, Ambodigoavy, Ambodimanga schools in the programme. distributed over 15575 meals from Families, forests and greater and Ambohipo located on the 5 November 2018 to March 2019. bamboo lemurs: all united! Fokontany involved in the project. This project is financed by the World Association of Zoos and We pay half of the indemnities of Aquariums (WAZA) in the context 13 teachers and have distributed of their programme “Nature over 600 school kits this year. Connect”. In addition, thanks to the support of the Fondation Air France we The Simus Festival 40 families from the villages of were able to start erecting a new The 7th Simus Festival during which Vohitrarivo and Sahofika were permanent solid building at the we celebrated the 10th anniversary We also published 3 issues of able to go and meet the Greater school of Ambodimanga which will of Helpsimus was held on 19 the magazine “Les P’tits Simus” 4200kg of material for Bamboo Lemurs and other lemurs accommodate two classrooms. October 2019 at Tsaratanana. which is a support for the Madagascar! in the forest. We will also be able to create an correspondence between the Over 7000 school manuals and area for the youngest children (a Malagasy children and 4 French various books as well as school The drawing competition had kindergarten class) as well as a schools. supplies, toys and clothing have been prepared in advance with library in this building. been sent to Madagascar and will our educator Mary who brought be distributed among the schools the children into the forest. “Avotra, the Lemur From the of the Bamboo Lemur Programme Bamboos” during 2020. Margaux Pizzo, the Director of the Jardin Zoologique de La Citadelle, attended the “Simus Festival”.

We published a children’s book This material comes from a called “Avotra, le lémurien des Many activities were organized: collection organized over 2 years In all, 15 tours were organized, bambous” (Avotra, the Lemur from song and dance shows prepared ago by the children of the school including 4 weekends of the Bamboos). It tells the story of by children from the schools of Mervent and several donations exchanges during which the Schools one of the male Greater Bamboo and local groups, a drawing We have continued to support from schools and members/ families from Vohitrarivo went to We have renovated the Lemurs of Group II. competition, a game of coconut Romain, our scholarship student volunteers of Helpsimus. Sahofika and vice versa. kindergarten classroom of the shy about threats to the lemurs, a who passed 5eme and has been school at Sahofika and replaced This story by Florence Perroux women’s soccer tournament, etc. admitted to the upper level. Transport has been organized by During these visits, the families the school furniture of the school and Faustine Lemerle serves as a eTech - La Référence du Digital participated in the guides’ work of Ambodimanga. teaching tool for our educator and

24 © S. Meys, D. Roullet 25 © S. Meys, N. Randrianarijaona, D. Roullet 2019 EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT RECRUITMENT OF AN EDUCATOR RAPPORTANNUAL ANNUELREPORT and learned how to manage the the new guides was recruited from In addition, we have launched the In 2019 we recruited an educator groups of lemurs. and concentrated was also able to conflicts with the animals when among the participants. sorting of waste and installed bins to launch our environmental experiment with two sessions in they attack their crops. for composting in these 2 villages. education programme. direct contact with the children and Our educator, Mary continued We have done the same in our to become familiar with methods of The families from each village the visits during the Christmas two camps at Vohitrarivo and Mary comes from the village of passing on messages. were invited to share their holidays for families from Sahofika. Sahofika. After finishing her studies experiences during the 4 days of the villages of Ambohipo and and spending a few months in the meetings of which 2 were devoted Ambodimanga. capital, she returned to her village to to reforesting. manage the environmental education activities in the 5 schools of the programme and also with the villages Florence also trained Mary in holding during specific events. two workshops that she created and for which she designed the supports as well as in various activities for the children. The activities organized by At the end of her training, plans Mary are now the subject of articles spread over several weeks were for the magazine Les P’tits Simus. prepared to helper to implement We also offered training to the 40 her activities in the schools. They At the end of the event, the 40 families in better water and waste Florence had also prepared a will allow the children to be become families were brought together at management in the villages. We detailed methodology for each more aware of the preservation of the Tsaratanana where they created a have set up systems for collecting task entrusted to Mary such as the animals that surround them and to banner on which they put imprints rainwater (help in supply) in In October, Mary was trained by organization of the family tours to the make them ambassadors of nature in of their hands, committing in the villagers of Vohitrarivo and Florence Perroux, who is in charge forest, which she presented during their community. this way to protect the Greater Sahofika. of Communication, Scientific a series of working sessions at the Bamboo Lemur and biodiversity. education and Conservation at the Vohitrarivo camp. Mary also started Zoo of La Palmyre and also Advisor in classes to improve her French but a Communication & Education of the translator was present to facilitate EAZA Prosimian TAG. There were two the exchanges and to ensure that objectives: to provide Mary with the the information transmitted was fully supports that will allow her to enrich understood. her knowledge and to create activities with the schoolchildren, and also to After the theory, practice took its show her how to organize workshops turn! Two events were organized at with the children. the school of Sahofika: reading with All the participants expressed Mary of the book “Avotra, le Lémurien their satisfaction at having learned Mary therefore received a first series des Bambous ” and then a workshop a lot about the biodiversity that of information sheets describing on the Greater Bamboo Lemur, our surrounds them and how to The first results are encouraging: several species that are present primary species, already well known preserve it. They were also happy less time spent looking for water, on the site of the Bamboo Lemur to most of the children. to have done these activities with less diarrhoea and stomach pain. Programme as well as the role of their families. In addition, one of the guides who monitor the various Mary, who was highly attentive

26 © S. Meys, N. Randrianarijaona, HELPSIMUS 27 © S. Meys Socio-economic element

- Improving the quality of life of the local populations, developing new Revenue Generating Activities, building infrastructure and means of communication, encouraging better hygiene practices and thus promoting better health in the communities. -

Our collaboration with the NGO Despite the significant increase In all, 126 families benefit from are: angivy, carrots, courgettes, 1024 acacia seedlings were manufacturing technique, and was Impact is continuing. Our aims in yields, and the constant the IPS programme (95 in 2018): petsai, ramirebaka, lettuce, planted at Vohitrarivo and 1915 very satisfied with it. are as follows: accompaniment of our team, the 56 in Vohitrarivo (including anamamy, cabbage, cucumber, at Sahofika, bringing the total to • to improve existing families do not systematically Soanierana), 32 in Sahofika, 24 green beans, peppers, tomatoes 2939. agricultural production practice the IPA. We hope that In Ambohipo and 14 in Volotara/ and melon. However, the harvest systems, the improvement works on the Ambodigoavy. was not good due to a problem • to develop new revenue irrigation will encourage them to with germinating the seeds (bad generating activities. change their habits definitively. 54 families practiced the IPS quality seeds sold by the supplier). during the counter-seasons The participants benefit from In 2019, the programme was campaign: 34 in Vohitrarivo, 6 in The earnings varied from 2100 training, donations of material, extended to 14 families from Sahofika in 14 in Volotara. Ar to 5000 Ar per beneficiary but Emilie is currently setting up her raw material and constant support Volotara and Ambodigoavy. the participants prefer to keep company in France and it will from our agronomists. The pilot paddy field was moved their harvest for their personal integrate the jewellery making The improvement work on the to Vohitrarivo following water consumption rather than selling it. The survival rate of the trees project. Unfortunately, we had to end Eric’s irrigation began in July and the problems at Ambohipo where it that were checked is quite good: *** activities after noting anomalies first phase was completed in had been located previously. Fish Farming between 75 and 85%. However in his work. A new technician has September. Thirteen families participated in we are considering a study to The sculptors have finished been recruited. His name is Jean Vegetable Crops the fish farming programme that identify fast growing local species their training with Randria near Tafitanjanahary, known as “Tafita”. The development programme of was restarted in 2018. The initial that would ultimately allow the Antsirabé. They have made great He started to work on 25 July vegetable crops started again in results are encouraging and some production of eucalyptus and progress and two of them are very 2019. March. 266 families participated beneficiaries have already started acacia to stop. prolific. and benefitted from support from to sell fish. The families that benefit from our agronomists: Craftwork the IPS (“Improved Paddy field • 22 in Ambodimanga of which Nurseries Emilie Carrias (a French jewellery System”) development programme 14 are new; The production of species for designer) this year created a pair continue to be accompanied. Only • 95 in Ambohipo of which 31 domestic use was launched in the of earrings using seeds of Job’s- 37 families (less than half of the It benefits about forty families of are new; 2 forest nurseries in Vohitrarivo tears. participants in the programme) which 28 from Soanierana have • 25 in Ambodivoasary; and Sahofika. practiced the IPA system for joined the IPS programme this • 25 in Sahateza; the January-May 2019 crop: 10 year. This project is very important • 51 in Sahofika of which 34 are We have also started an families in Sahofika, 9 in Ambohipo for the families who can increase new; embroidery project in association and 18 in Vohitrarivo. The rains their paddy field yields in this way. • 48 in Vohitrarivo of which 9 are with an embroiderer from came late this year and most of new. Ranomafana and have worked the participants waited too long to We are currently seeking other with him on a prototype of an plant their rice plants. The average financing to be able to renovate Some beneficiaries left the embroidered bag, which was yields are nevertheless very good: all the irrigation systems around programme because they moved In April, she trained the women validated at the end of the year. 4.24 t/ha pour Sahofika, 4.29 t/ha the villages of Vohitrarivo and away or died. The number of 1667 eucalyptus seedlings were of Sahofika and Volotara in the for Vohitrarivo and 4.12 t/ha for Ambohipo which are the worst beneficiaires increased by 74.4%. planted at Vohitrarivo and 1743 at making of these earrings. She Lastly, we have launched a Ambohipo. affected by this problem. Sahofika, bringing to total to 3410. also verified the new bracelets project to build a boutique at the The species of vegetable grown and assessed the women’s entrance to the National Park of

30 © D. Roullet 31 © S. Meys 2019 SOCIO ECONOMIC ELEMENT ECOTOURISM PROJECT RAPPORTANNUAL ANNUELREPORT

Ranomafana. An agreement has the first creations of the Bamboo We have also set up a “road- been signed with the Direction of Lemur Programme and had watch” with the builder who the National Park following site stopped working several long checks the track every week and meetings after which the shop’s months earlier. instantly repairs any damage design was finalized. Emilie Carrias found on the sections that have attended these meetings and is A second phase may follow been repaired. Much remains to advising us on the layout of the in 2 years that would include be done and a new assessment of premises. The work should begin electrifying the 3 other schools the condition will be needed after in 2020. as well as installing solar panels the rainy season. and installing a pump with a water reservoir at the Vohitrarivo camp.

Helpsimus’s Camps We are developing an ecotourism programme, which started in October, on the lemurs present in the forest as We have built a new camp at project (single day tours, possibly includes various classes in language, well as initial full equipment (raingear Volotara comprising a kitchen, with a night included) near the guiding and first aid as well as work and watches). Other sheets will be a tent shelter, toilets and a village of Sahofika. experience in the Ranomafana prepared in the coming months on shower. We have also completed National Park as well as in other various themes. maintenance work at the There, the territory of Group V is reserves (such as Maromizaha). Electricians Without Borders Vohitrarivo and Sahofika camp: the located within a small secondary A team from Electricians Without kitchen floor at Vohitrarivo, roofs forest which is very different to They joined the Helpsimus team on Borders came to electrify several of the tent shelters, etc. the traditional bamboo forests a full time basis (20 days/month) and classrooms at Sahofika and that comprise most of the habitat are currently participating in assessing Ambodigoavy. The Roadway of the groups of Greater Bamboo the habituation of Group V of Greater The track between Ifanadiana Lemurs that we are monitoring and Bamboo Lemurs. The electricity, which seemed until and Vohitrarivo continued to protecting. This area is shared with a now inaccessible to the site of the deteriorate and after the rains of group of Red-bellied Lemurs. Bamboo Lemur Programme, will June became impassable except allow our environmental education for tractors and large trucks. To ensure the 2 groups of lemurs programme to develop and we can be observed properly by the will be able to organize training With the support of the District ecotourists, we have decided to for adults. It will also facilitate Chief of Ifanadiana, we began reinforce the habituation and the teachers’ work. A lamp was renovation work on the track. monitoring of the animals: 2 teams also installed at the base camp of Thanks to a crowdfunding of 3 guides now work in turns in the Several paths are also being laid out Vohitrarivo. campaign on the internet and the forest. We have already observed them in in the lower section of the forest support of several of our partners the presence of outside visitors (2 which had not been accessible until Furthermore, Electricians we have been able to rehabilitate We then hired 3 tourist guides in the eco-volunteers and the Director of the now. Construction of the reception Without Borders has financed the 6 more problematic sections VOI SAMIVAR who will be responsible Besançon Zoo) and they are all highly office and carpark have also begun. the renovation of the fountain as well as 2 bridges (one of which for guiding the eco-tourists. They are motivated! Lastly, several tours have been at Vohimarina and the work is is still being repaired). one man (Charles) and two women organized and went very well. ongoing. This fountain is one of (Francine and Lova). Their training They were given explanatory sheets

32 © S. Meys 33 © F. Perroux, N. Randrianarijaona, D. Roullet HELPSIMUS NEWS

Conference • a poster on the families’ tours disappeared” by Sébastien Meys and in the forest (WAZA project). François-Gilles Grandin as well as several works by our sculptors.

In 2019, thanks to the support of the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Documentaries we participated in the Annual We appear in the documentary “Zoo Conference of the EAZA which was in situ” by François Derive with our Annual General Meeting held at Valencia in Spain and we partner, the Zoo of La Palmyre. Our annual general meeting was presented three posters: held in Paris on 14 September • A poster on the Greater The first episode of the newBBC 2019 with about thirty participants Bamboo Lemur which has series “Earth’s Tropical Islands”, present. become an umbrella species which is about Madagascar and for the conservation of other in which we participated, was animal and plant species on broadcast on 1 January 2020. the site Prim’Arts Festival On 13 and 14 July, we participated in the Prim’Arts Festival organized by the Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates (Conservatory for the

Protection of Primates) at the Vallée © F-G. Grandin, F. Perroux, D. Roullet des Singes.

• A poster on the monitoring of We showed our photo exhibition the Ring-tailed Mongoose “The lemur that was thought to have

IN FRANCE...

20 years conference AFSA/Bioparc Doué Conference SECAS Parc de Clères Folembray Conference YABOUMBA March 2019 March 2019 May 2019 September 2019 September 2019

and the Zoo de Lyon on 4 and 5 May 2019 during the “Rendez-Vous de la Biodiversité”!

Zoo de Sanary Parc de Sainte Croix Lumigny Le Pal Conference SECAS June 2019 June 2019 July 2019 October 2019 November 2019

IN MADAGASCAR...

Zoo de La Palmyre Prim’Arts Vallée des Singes Zoo de Plaisance du Touch July 2019 July 2019 July 2019

Independance Day World Environment Day June 2019 June 2019

Zoo Safari Thoiry Zoo de Besançon July 2019 September 2019

36 © M. André, K. Chantoiseau, F-G. Grandin, HLN, D. Roullet 37 © F-G. Grandin, HLN, M. Maillet, Le Pal, B. Quintard, D. Roullet 2019 PARTNERS 2019 FINANCIAL STATEMENT RAPPORTANNUAL ANNUELREPORT

Income increased in 2019 (183,122.49 euros) as well as expenditure (149,904.34 euros) with the development of the various activities.

Significant amounts have been obtained to finance specific equipment and activities that will be accomplished in 2020: the purchase of a vehicle, construction of a boutique at Ranomafana, etc. This explains the major delta between income and expenditure for 2019.

The European zoos and associations-foundations-NGOs connected to zoos are the historic contributors on an equal level this year with other NGOs and foundations that do not come from the zoological community.

The largest amounts of funding come from Pure Trade and SOS – SaveOur Species.

In 2019, we received support from several partners outside the zoological community: the NGO Electricians Without Borders, the Fondation Audemars-Piguet, Fondation Ensemble, Fondation Air France, Fondation Yves Rocher and a family based foundation.

The number of individual members has been stable for several years: about fifty. Some have supported Helpsimus since its creation.

The entire budget of Helpsimus (except for operating expenses) is allocated to the completion of the Bamboo Lemur Programme (PBL). The PBL category includes indemnities for the local team of Helpsimus and also the activities on the site of the PBL: works, organization of the Simus Festival…

Our Malagasy partners: Delphine Roullet, the president of Helpsimus, makes two monitoring trips of one month every year. The travel And the members expenses also include the financing of certain activities on of Helpsimus! the PBL site (purchase of equipment, bonuses etc.).

In 2019, we used 2 consultants: Maryline André for the project to protect the paddy fields and Alessio Anania for the inventory of the Red- bellied Lemurs.

38 39 m

24 rue Archereau Bât. B - Appt. 157 79019 PARIS [email protected] www.helpsimus.org