A Species on the Brink
The Indri, often called the “singing lemur” for its haunting territorial calls, is Critically Endangered and found only in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. With habitat loss accelerating across the island nation, protecting the remaining forest corridors is essential for this species’ survival.
The Anjozorobe Angavo Protected Area represents one of the last strongholds for this remarkable primate. Since 1997, Association Fanamby—a Malagasy NGO and Conservation Allies partner committed to conserving Madagascar’s biodiversity—has been working tirelessly to protect its critical habitat.
Community Rangers: The Frontline of Conservation
With support from Conservation Allies, Fanamby has implemented an innovative community-based protection program specifically targeting poaching threats to the Indri. The cornerstone of this approach is the deployment of 138 local rangers (known as KMT – Komity Miaro ny Tontolo iainana) who conduct daily patrols within their home territories.
These community rangers—four assigned to each of the 19 local villages—bring invaluable local knowledge to conservation efforts. Beyond patrolling, they serve as conservation ambassadors, raising awareness about the ecological importance of the Indri and reporting suspicious activities to mixed patrol teams.
During the second half of 2024 alone, the KMT rangers patrolled a cumulative distance of 1,400 miles inside the park, demonstrating the scale and commitment of this conservation effort.
A Remarkable Achievement
The results have been extraordinary. According to Fanamby’s latest report, no poaching incidents involving the Indri have been recorded since 2023—a remarkable achievement for this IUCN Threatened species.
“Thanks to the involvement of community patrols, local populations have become aware of the importance of this species for the ecosystem and have reported poaching activities,” noted Tsiory Rasoloarijao of Fanamby. “This represents a significant shift in community attitudes and practices.”
Looking Forward
While this success story represents a significant milestone, challenges remain. Illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture threaten the Indri’s forest home. According to the Madagascar Protected Area Outlook 2024, Anjozorobe Angavo Protected Area is Critically Endangered, having lost over 2% of its forest every year for the past 20 years. This horrific forest loss is now the major focus of efforts by Fanamby, together with Conservation Allies support.
Through our continued partnership, we are helping to ensure that the call of the Indri will continue to echo through Madagascar’s forests for generations to come.
