Protecting Madagascar’s Lemurs – will you help us to ‘move it move it’?
- Worth Wild Africa
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 4
Frontline appeal for US$10,000 for photographic and film equipment to support GERP’s efforts to conserve, monitor and study lemurs, and develop educational and promotional material
Everyone knows about Ring Tailed Lemurs, but there are now up to 112 species known to science, all endemic to Madagascar. 98% of these are threatened with extinction, and 31% are critically endangered!
Founded in 1994 by ten Malagasy primatologists with the goal of studying and conserving lemurs, Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates de Madagascar (GERP) has since helped protect lemurs and their habitats and engage with local communities and schools while building local capacity for long-term conservation management.
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 2023, WWA was delighted to raise $2000 to purchase a new laptop for GERP and enable them to up their game significantly in field data processing and the production of promotional films.
WWA is now appealing 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.
Will you help WWA help GERP to showcase the beauty, diversity and vulnerability of lemurs, amd inspire a sense of urgency and a desire to protect these remarkable creatures and make a lasting impact on their conservation?
Here is GERP’s equipment wish-list in order of preference/urgency
Item Cost (Euros) Camera NIKON Z7 II 1,400 Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S (polyvalent lens) 932 Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S (for object from afar) 996 Nikkor Z 14-30mm (for wide angle) 932 Spare battery EN-EL15c 690 2 32go sd cards 80 LENS for our old Nikon Sigma 150-600mm 980 LENS for our lumix video Lumix 14- 140mm 622 Drone DJI mini 3 + Thermal lens 1000 Portable micro RODE. 500 GO PRO 230 Fixed light (pro LED 600) 110 TOTAL Euros 7100 = approx US$8300 |
We have already receieved 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.
Georgia Untamed Zoo in Georgia have also organised a super ‘Jazz in Jungle’ event on August 9th this year in aid of this appeal.
Please join these generous supporters of lemur conservation and donate whatever you can to help us reach that target for GERP.
If you would like to donate to cover the cost of one specific item on GERP’s wish list, please let us know which one when you donate via peter@worthwildafrica.org and we’ll be sure to recognise your generosity and advise GERP of your focused support.
Then you too can sing ‘I like to move it move it’ and be happy all day, knowing that you have!
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