Launching: Madagascar's Treasure: Keep Lemurs Wild!
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In mid-2016 the Pet Lemur Survey and Lemur Love, Inc. (a USA 501c3 non-profit organization), launched a nation-wide outreach campaign in Madagascar to combat the illegal pet lemur trade.
This was one of the first nationwide outreach efforts in Madagascar regarding the illegal ownership of lemurs, the world’s most endangered group of mammals. As recently as 2010, the illegal ownership of lemurs was described as not being a threat to these endemic primates. Over 28,000 lemurs, however, were kept as illegal pets in Madagascar between 2010 and mid-2013. The combination of the pet trade not being recognized as a legitimate conservation threat, and inadequate funding for on-the-ground conservation initiatives, have impeded conservation education and outreach efforts. In total, we distributed 675 waterproof posters (in 8 languages and dialects) in cities and towns all across the country via a network of partner NGOs. We held a launch event in Antananarivo at the American Center attended by over 75 people, including representatives from 18 different NGOs, National Parks of Madagascar, the Office of National Tourism, and the Ministry of Environment. In addition, we held smaller outreach events in several smaller cities (advertised on the radio) where the public could come and ask us questions, and find out more about this issue. The map (left) shows where outreach events took place. This outreach initiative was funded in part by the National Geographic Conservation Trust and the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation’s Primate Action Fund. |
Outreach Kit
We encourage other NGOs, schools, community groups, researchers, and other interested individuals to use the outreach materials from the campaign to undertake outreach in your community! Please feel free to use any and all of the materials, below for your purposes! We only ask that you send us a message to let us know where you are using the materials (which town in Madagascar or elsewhere in the world) and how many people you have impacted with your outreach.
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Information about illegal pet lemur ownership
Pet Lemur cartoon/infographic
Sticker/Bumper sticker
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Coloring pages
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Posters
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