MISSION STATEMENT The Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the primates of Madagascar through captive breeding, scientific research, and education. TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement Executive Director’s Letter Lemurs Madagascar Art Board Update Research Education Staff Update Statement of Donor Vounteers & Visitors LCF Staff Financial Position Acknowledgements 2 3 4-5 6-9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16 17-18 19 LCF STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS Alison Grand, Ph.D., Curator of Primates and Conservation John Alexander Dr. George Amato Nancy Hendrickson, Office Manager Penelope Bodry-Sanders Dr. Kenneth E. Glander Mark Braunstein Ms. Andrea Katz Caitlin Kenney, Animal Keeper Blair Brown Dr. Thomas Lovejoy Lee Nesler, Executive Director and CEO Gail Erickson Dr. Erik R. Patel Anne Essner Dr. Elwyn L. Simons Catherine Olteanu, Manager of Development and John Freeman Dr. Robert W. Sussman Communications Kate Lippincott Dr. Ian Tattersall Pete Shover, Maintenance Supervisor Elizabeth Moore Dr. Linda Taylor Patrice Connolly Pantello Dr. Natalie Vasey Felicia Spector, Zoological Manager Judy Rasmuson Dr. Jeffery Wyatt Patricia Walsh, Director of Research and Operations Scott D. Riviere Razia Said Charlene Heiser Wolff | 2 | LEMUR CONSERVATION FOUNDATION 2014 ANNUAL REPORT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER 2014 was a critical year for both Madagascar and LCF. On When all of these competing factors come together 25 January 2014, Hery Rajaonarimampianina began his in a finite space, a conflict for survival takes place and Presidential term bringing the hope of economic change the animals lose their territories to man’s ingenuity to and stability to Madagascar. With new leadership in use fire, chainsaws, guns, and excavators. During our place, there is the opportunity for conservation efforts sojourn through Madagascar, the groups were able to and tourism to return to the pre-2009 coup d’état levels. witness successful conservation areas where animals are Ecotourism is a vital revenue source for Madagascar protected and the community members are grateful for and an important part of the IUCN Lemur Action Plan. the ability to work in the tourism profession. Prior to the coup 375,000 tourists came to the red island Our group was able to appreciate the dedicated annually to enjoy the unique flora and fauna. These Malagasy people involved in-situ conservation efforts travelers create jobs and income for the villagers and while touring the parks and sharing conversations in local people in the area of the resorts and lemur parks the evening allowing both US and Malagasy to learn by providing a direct infusion of funds through fees, more about our unique cultures, each other’s families porters and guides as well as enhancing the value of and a clear connection by sharing a reverence for lemur environment and lemur protection within the local conservation. communities. It is better for the local village families to Our group found hiking the trails, and carefully be employed to save the lemurs and habitat than to cut navigating the hillsides while looking for endangered the trees, mine for minerals and consume lemurs. prosimians to be an exciting and life-changing In August, I had the privilege to lead two ecotourism experience. Witnessing the animals in their native groups through Madagascar with Dr. Ian Tattersall, an homes, listening to their calls and watching them at night LCF Scientific Advisor and distinguished Curator Emeritus creates a yearning to support lemur conservation efforts in the Division of Anthropology for the American in Madagascar. Museum of Natural History. Ian is a world-renowned As you read through the pages you will learn more SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS paleoanthropologist and a leading authority on primate about our mission program successes over the past year. research. He has been studying lemurs since 1969 and LCF continues to thrive and grow in meaningful ways to is recognized for his discovery of the golden-crowned support the existence of both the US captive born and sifaka lemur, also known as Tattersall’s sifaka, in northeast Madagascar wild lemurs. Madagascar in 1974. It was a thrill to enlighten 16 people about the fragile Sincerely, island of Madagascar, its endemic species of flora and fauna and the Malagasy people who struggle to provide for their families on a daily basis. It is truly a balance of empathy for Madagascar and its people while protecting the natural resources and animals that will make Lee Nesler conservation successful on the island. Executive Director and CEO www.LEMURRESERVE.org | 3 | The State of Lemurs In 2014, the journal practices, illegal logging of highly prized rosewood Science published a and ebony, decreased protection of protected lemur powerful article on habitat, and increased levels of lemur hunting, which the status of lemurs were particularly detrimental during the political since the political crisis crisis from 2009 to 2013. in 2009. The article, Although the struggle to save lemurs is one of the based on the new greatest conservation challenges the world is facing, International Union there is hope. The political crisis in Madagascar for Conservation of ended with the democratic election of President Nature (IUCN) Red Hery Rajaonarimampianina, setting the stage for List assessment, is coordinated conservation strategies. In the wake a warning of the of the political crisis, top conservation leaders Critically endangered imminent threat of created the Lemurs of Madagascar, A Strategy for mongoose lemur born at LCF lemur extinctions their Conservation 2013-2016, which identifies key and a call to action strategies and specific actions that individuals and in the hopes of curtailing mass extinctions of these organizations can do to help stop this crisis. magnificent primates found nowhere else on earth. The fact is lemurs are now the most threatened 1. Stop habitat loss and increase lemur habitats group of mammals on the earth (Schwitzer et al., 2. Stop the illegal logging of rosewood and ebony 2014). With lemurs representing 21% of all primate 3. Ensure the sustainable use of forests species and a unique evolutionary lineage found 4. Stop lemur hunting nowhere else, saving lemur populations from this 5. Establish eco-tourism and research sites unprecedented decline is the single highest primate 6. Increase training of Malagasy scientists conservation priority in the world (Lemurs of 7. Promote lemur conservation through Madagascar, A Strategy for their Conservation 2013- international and national conservation education 2016; Schwitzer et al., 2014). programs 8. Establish lemur breeding programs to act as a The numbers genetic safety net for wild lemur populations are staggering and The Lemur Conservation Foundation is deeply heartbreaking. committed to working with conservation partners to The percentage implement these strategies. Through our managed of lemur breeding program, Ako Conservation Education taxa listed as Program, and our projects to increase protection threatened of lemur habitats in Madagascar, we are fighting to (i.e. critically prevent lemur extinctions. You can help us answer endangered, this urgent call to action by telling your friends and Endangered ring-tailed lemur endangered, family about the lemur crisis, ensuring that the infant born at LCF or vulnerable) products you purchase do not contribute to lemur increased from 74% in 2008 to almost 94% in habitat destruction, and by supporting organizations 2012. Sadly, even lemurs previously believed to like LCF. By working together we can ensure that be less vulnerable, like the ring-tailed lemur, are lemurs not only play an important role in our now listed as endangered. The dramatic decline in evolutionary past but that we will continue to unravel their mysteries and appreciate their beauty well into lemur populations is the result of increased habitat “Fragments” by Alexis Rockman destruction in part due to slash and burn agricultural the future. | 4 | LEMUR CONSERVATION FOUNDATION 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Births Colony Update 2014 Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) there are five collared lemurs at LCF. Our newest Crispin was born to Molson and Sarsaparilla (aka Sassy) in early May IUCN Status: Endangered – Very high risk of collared resident Wizard, acquired from Duke of 2014. Keegan was born later that month to Sassy’s sister Sobe, also extinction in the wild in the near future. There Lemur Center in late 2013, is acclimating well to fathered by Molson. Sassy and her sister Sobe came to LCF from Duke are fourteen ring-tailed lemurs at LCF. Four of her new home at the reserve and really enjoys her Lemur Center on a breeding recommendation. Crispin and Keegan these were welcomed into the colony in the 2014 mate Olivier. are the first offspring for all three parents. This family of ring-tailed birthing season. Common Brown Lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) lemurs are great free-rangers and inhabit one of LCF’s fenced-in 10 Mongoose Lemurs (Eulemur mongoz) IUCN Status: Near Threatened – Close to facing a acre forests. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered - Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium- high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate term future. Six common brown lemurs are part of Ansell and Yuengling had yet another set of twins in 2014, this time one future. We now have fourteen mongoose lemurs the LCF collection. girl and one boy. Moose (the male) and Duffy (the female) were born in our colony. The LCF team said goodbye to in late May are growing up in one of LCF’s free-ranging forests. Their Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra) Silvio, the male mongoose lemur that the animal names go along with the reserve’s beer theme for Lemur catta. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered - Extremely care staff stepped in to hand-raise in 2013 when high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate Mongoose Lemurs (Eulemur mongoz) his mother could not care for him.