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An update from Evaneos
Madagascar

Photographing lemurs in Madagascar

Travel to the Eighth Continent

Chameleons, lemurs, baobabs and carnivorous plants: Madagascan species which are symbols of a genetic heritage that still puzzles biologists. In fact, the biodiversity of Madagascar offers an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, due its isolation, which is totally unlike that on other continents. Big surprise - although this is a wild place, only the mosquitoes and the crocodiles are dangerous to man (or woman)!

Because of the variety of landscapes, Madagascar, the Red Island, the eighth continent, with its unique and enigmatic wildlife, offers photographers the chance to collect natural curiosities, like opening the doors to a world out of time.

Madagascar and its strange primates

In Madagascar, these iconic primates are transformed before our eyes into moving soft toys with their fluffy coats. Their name derives from the word 'Lemure', the ghosts of Roman mythology. Very strong superstitions still surround the primates which are believed to be the carriers of the souls of the ancestors. These beliefs have protected them up to now from systematic hunting: for many Madagascan peoples it is actually fady – taboo – to kill lemurs.

The way of life of lemurs is fascinating. For example, some species have developed funeral rituals and it is said that maki catta lemurs would shed tears when one of the members of their group died. Lemurs are totally adapted to their environment and treat their wounds by dipping into a natural pharmacopoeia. According to local legend, it was the lemurs that showed the island's first inhabitants how to heal themselves with medicinal plants from the forest.

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Getting close to lemurs in their natural environment

Keen photographers will be hypnotised by the yellow-eyed lemurs that move from one branch to another in their teddy bear coats.

Here are five sanctuaries where they can be observed:

- to the north of the island, a short way from Nosy Be, you can choose the green calm of the island ofNosy Komba.

- a three hour ride by bush taxi from the capital, the rainforest of the Andasibe National Park, where 14 species of lemurs live.

- the Anja village reserve, near the Nationale 7 road, is a paradise for ring-tailed lemurs with their distinctive black and white ringed tails and impish, cat-like faces.

- the Ranomafana National Park offers the chance to see very rare species of lemurs. In this dense rainforest biotope, you need experienced trackers to find the animals in the forest.

- the Isalo National Park is a particularly rich area for exploration, with different species of lemurs that are almost tame. in the wet wodded canyons you can get close to wonderful sifakas, mischievous varikas - brown lemurs that are particularly ingenious as soon as they smell a picnic - and the very photogenic ring-tailed lemurs, that enjoy long sunbathing sessions watched by dumbstruck hikers.

In order to record these iconic animals, un a good telephoto lens up to 400 mm, is particularly useful. But the most essential tool for any keen wildlife photographer cannot be found in specialist shops, i.e. patience which will enable, or not, special encounters with these rare species. A laid-back or 'mora-mora' approach is the order of the day. You need to copy the slowness of the chameleon and deploy the treasures of discretion...

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