Silky Sifakas Require Urgent Conservation and Research

This website is a central repository for information about the silky sifaka.  Since 2001, projects have focused on behavioral ecology, communication, and conservation. Volunteer field research assistantships are occasionally available.

Silky sifakas (Propithecus candidus) are amongst the rarest mammals on earth, and are listed as one of the World’s Top 25 Most Critically Endangered Primates. Global population size is roughly estimated between only 100 and 1000 total remaining individuals. They are only found within a few protected areas in the rainforests of north-eastern Madagascar: Marojejy National Park, Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, and the Makira Conservation Site. Silky sifakas are the flag-ship species for these protected areas, particularly for Marojejy which has recently been inaugurated as part of a World Heritage Site Cluster. Silky sifakas have never survived in captivity probably due to their highly specialized folivorous diet.

Copyright © 2008, Erik R. Patel. All rights reserved.