It is not uncommon to see the local people (Malagasy) in Madagascar creating eco-tourism opportunities using lemurs and other species. They know where the lemurs are and they know foreigners like to see them! The people do appreciate nature, but as populations grow and the need for food increases they seek any means possible to survive. There is a great need for conservation that can provide sustainable solutions for Malagasy people in Madagascar.
Our next speaker for our call of the Wild Speaker Series is Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy, who is a Malagasy primatologist and conservationist. Early in his career he studied Archaeology and Paleontology in Madagascar, spending many hours digging up ancient lemur fossils. He once told me he spent three days digging up a full skeleton of one of the giant extinct lemurs that were the size of humans. This work brought him in and around villages where he saw people eating lemurs. He told me one day he looked at the bones he was dusting off at the time, then at a small species of lemur being placed in a cooking pot over an open fire, and said to himself, “The lemurs in the ground can wait, but the lemurs in the trees need my help now!”. That was when he decided to commit himself to conserving species in Madagascar.
Come to the Zoo to hear about primatologist Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy’s work saving lemurs and other species in Madagascar on February 15th at 7:00 pm. Be one of the first to hear all about his recent discovery of a brand-new lemur species! Enjoy beverages and tasty appetizers from Houston’s own Beaver’s restaurant and meet some of the Houston Zoo’s animals from Madagascar up-close. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.
If you are interested in journeying to this amazing land, join the Houston zoo on our trip to Madagascar in 2013. For more information CLICK HERE.
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