Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group

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Logo of MFG featuring the Aye-Aye Madagascar Fauna Group.jpg
Logo of MFG featuring the Aye-Aye

The Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group(MFG) is an international consortium of zoos and other conservation agencies which pool resources to help conserve animal species in Madagascar, through captive breeding programs, field research programs, training programs for rangers and wardens, and acquisition and protection of native habitat in Madagascar. It is a non-governmental organization working in conjunction with the Ministry of Water, Forests, and the Environment, Government of Madagascar. It is the organization behind the Save the Lemur campaign and is headquartered at the Saint Louis Zoo. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Origins

The organization was formed in response to a plea by the Government of Madagascar to the international zoo community in 1987 to help conserve species and habitat in Madagascar and provide training and knowhow for such activities. The plea was made at a meeting held at St. Catherines Island, Georgia, United States. Convened by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it was attended by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (then Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust) headed by Gerald Durrell, Parc Zoologique et Botanique de Mulhouse, the Strasborg consortium, the Duke Lemur Center, and several US zoos. These institutions became the founding members of the group when it was formalized in 1988. As of August 2021, the organization has 30 member institutions. [4] The two logos of the organization sport two of Madagascar's oft championed species for conservation – the ruffed lemur and the aye-aye.

Goals

Logo for the Save the Lemur campaign, featuring a ruffed lemur Savethelemur.jpg
Logo for the Save the Lemur campaign, featuring a ruffed lemur

The six major goals of the MFG, as outlined in their mission statement, are:

Among their campaigns is Save the Lemur, a drive to raise funds and generate awareness about the plight of lemur species in Madagascar.

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The aye-aye is a long-fingered lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar with rodent-like teeth that perpetually grow and a special thin middle finger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Durrell</span> British naturalist, writer and television presenter (1925–1995)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jersey Zoo</span> Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zahamena National Park</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemur Conservation Foundation</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-and-white ruffed lemur</span> Species of lemur

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is an endangered species of ruffed lemur, one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur. Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red ruffed lemur was elevated to species status in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botanical and Zoological Garden of Tsimbazaza</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angonoka tortoise</span> Species of tortoise

The angonoka tortoise is a critically endangered species of tortoise severely threatened by poaching for the illegal pet trade. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is also known as the angonoka, ploughshare tortoise, Madagascar tortoise, or Madagascar angulated tortoise. There may be less than 400 of these tortoises left in the wild. It is found only in the dry forests of the Baly Bay area of northwestern Madagascar, near the town of Soalala .A captive-breeding facility was established in 1986 by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust in collaboration with the Water and Forests Department. In 1996, 75 tortoises were stolen, which later appeared for sale in the Netherlands. The project was ultimately successful, achieving 224 captive-bred juveniles out of 17 adults in 2004. Project Angonoka developed conservation plans that involved local communities making firebreaks, along with the creation of a park to protect the tortoise and the forests. Monitoring of the angonoka tortoise in the global pet trade has also continued to be advocated.

References

  1. "Tennessee Aquarium Leaping Into World Lemur Day On Oct. 20 With Special Programs, Activities". www.chattanoogan.com. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  2. "Rare mongoose lemur born at Saint Louis Zoo". St. Louis Business Journal. July 5, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  3. "Blue Devil of the Week: Supporting Madagascar and its People". Duke Today. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  4. "Member Institutions". Madagascar - MFG. Retrieved 2021-08-02.