Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) Mother and baby.
Berenty Reserve, Southern MADAGASCAR
These are large (length 900-1075mm and weight: 3-4kg), vertically clinging and leaping lemurs. They are diurnal and live in mixed multi mail / multi female groups of up to 14 individuals. Verreaux's sifaka feed primarily on leaves, fruit and flowers. They have one young born between August and September. At first the infant clings to the mother's front then as it gets larger rides on her back.
DISTRIBUTION: Forested regions from Tsiribihina River in the west, south to the Tolagnaro area in the south-east and inland as far as Isalo Massif. They live in Dry deciduous forests in the west and Xerophytic spiny and gallery forests in the south.
THREATENED: The various habitats in which this species are found are all becoming increasingly fragmented due cutting for timber, firewood and production of charcoal. Although it is 'fady' or taboo to hunt this species amoung some tribal groups others especially around Isalo do hunt it and in this area it is known as 'sifaka for the cooking pot'.
ENDEMIC TO MADAGASCAR