Formerly known as the “Garden of Acclimatization,” Nahampoana Reserve covers 67 hectares of rainforest near the south-east coast of Madagascar in the western Indian Ocean.
The reserve is home to native plants as well as introduced species, including various lemurs that are normally found in other areas of the island.
Lemurs are a group of primates unique to Madagascar, exhibiting huge variation in size and appearance. The smallest, mouse lemurs, can be as small as one’s thumb. On the other end, there were grass-grazing lemur species that are estimated to have weighed over 400 pounds, but were driven extinct by the local people.
There are almost 100 existing species of lemurs. They get their name from the Latin word “lemures” meaning ghosts of spirits, due to their reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits and ghostly calls of some species.
Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is a white lemur with brown fur on the head, arms, and flanks. It has a long tail for balance when leaping from tree to tree, and is herbivorous, feeding mainly on leaves. On the rare occasions when it descends to the ground, it hops to get around.
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) has a long black and white striped tail, and is a highly social and vocal species, exhibiting a behavior called female dominance, which is seen in some other lemur species. Ring-tails exhibit an extreme form of female dominance: female individuals are always given priority in social situations, such as feeding, even if the female is a tiny baby. This lemur is omnivorous, eating plant material as well as spiders, insects, chameleons, and small birds.
Brown or true lemurs belong to the genus Eulemur and are herbivorous, eating mostly fruits, flowers, and leaves. They are skilled climbers and can jump long distances, using their long tails for balance.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above, and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
