The Indri

The very identity of Madagascar lies within its lemur diversity! Lemurs are often referred to as the ‘Jewels of Madagascar’ as they are found nowhere else on earth apart from this remote island. Being part of the superfamily Lemuroidea, there are over a hundred species of lemur concentrated on different parts of the Malagasy landmass. Each species of lemur has had a different evolutionary path making each kind very distinct. From these, the largest existing lemur species is the Indri. The Indri often reaches lengths of around 70 cm and weighs in between 6 and 9.5 kg, making them one heavy primate! 

The name ‘Indri’ comes from a native Malagsy word which means ‘there’ and this was solidified by the French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat. Indris can be identified on trees with their distinct black and white coats. Like most lemur species, they are arboreal and spend most of their time moving through the rainforest canopy. They are vertical climbers/leapers and must keep an upright posture to support their climbing. Being on trees, they practice a herbivorous diet which involves a variety of leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers. Indris tend to be monogamous throughout their lives and it is the females which are considered the dominant ones. Every 2 or 3 years, females can bear offspring and the upbringing process lasts for 2 years. Despite being such a unique and wonderful animal species, Indris have been pushed to the edge of extinction by human activity.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Indris have been listed as ‘Critically Endangered,’ which means their existence is in extreme jeopardy. The main dangers for the Indri are habitat destruction and fragmentation, poaching, the illegal pet trade and taboos placed against them. Additionally, threats are prevalent in protected areas too. These dangers have severely reduced their population numbers in the wild and to add to that pressure, Indris are not known to survive in captivity. Around 1000-5000 Indris are left in the wild and this number continues to decrease. 

It is important to conserve Indris as they play a crucial role in the Malagasy ecosystem. Even though all hope seems lost, a variety of conservation efforts have been setup to save this beautiful, but fragile creature. Minor ecosystem disturbances have the potential to change the entire future and it is the state of their future which lies within humanity’s hands. We must work with the people of Madagascar for a better future.