Conserving Madagascar’s Lemurs

Worth Wild Africa
Oct 3
2 min read

Frontline appeal raises US$12,500 for photographic and film equipment, as well as Starlink internet connection powered by solar panels, to support GERP’s efforts to conserve, monitor and study lemurs, and develop educational and promotional material

Founded in 1994 by ten Malagasy primatologists with the goal of studying and conserving lemurs, GERP (Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates de Madagascar) protects lemurs and their habitats and engage with local communities and schools, while building local capacity for long-term conservation management.

There are now up to 112 lemur species recognised, all endemic to Madagascar. 98% of these are threatened with extinction, and 31% are critically endangered!

Today, GERP is making significant contributions to lemur conservation through:

• studying their geographical distribution

• conducting vital research to develop and implement protection strategies

• establishing and managing protected areas

• implementing successful community conservation programs

• participating in the discovery of new species, such as the 25th recognized species of mouse lemur, the tiny 60-gram Microcebus jonahi, named for Prof Jonah Ratsimbazafy, the President of GERP who has dedicated his life to studying and protecting Madagascar’s endemic lemurs.

In 2025 WWA appealed for funds to assist GERP further in acquiring essential photographic and film making equipment to survey, study and protect lemurs and promote their conservation globally, and to raise awareness in local communities and schools throughout Madagascar about the importance of lemurs and their habitats. The equipment will allow GERP to produce engaging first class documentaries, short films and other educational materials to promote their many activities through social media, websites, presentations and exhibitions. In addition, GERP requested $2,500 for a Starlink internet connection powered by solar panels.

UPDATE Oct 2025:

We received a super start up donation for this appeal of $2500 from the Dr Jane Frederick Family Foundation, and generous advance donations from Wildlifeworld Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park in Arizona, Novawild in Virginia, Hemker Park and Zoo in Minnesota, Cougar Mountain Zoo in Washington, and Earth Ltd at Southwicks Zoo in Massachussetts. In addition, Georgia Untamed Zoo in Georgia organised a super ‘Jazz in Jungle’ event on August 9th this year in aid of this appeal.

Together with other generous donors, we are delighted to announce that $12,500 was raised in total, covering camera equipment AND the Starlink hardware!

We're all singing ‘I like to move it move it’ as we celebrate this milestone!

Read all about GERP here: