Category: 2025 News

Illegal mining (both for gold and for semi-precious gemstones) has become a serious problem in several protected areas of northeastern Madagascar, including Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, Makira Natural Area, and Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby Protected Area.

In Makira, just south of Anjanaharibe-Sud, a mining operation with nearly 400 miners has destroyed around 60 hectares of the park, replacing pristine forest with open pits and human settlements.  Although the miners were expelled, many have returned and park management staff have been threatened.

Pression sur les forêts – Des exploitants miniers envahissent le parc de Makira

Just to the north of Marojejy, a small protected area called Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby is managed by the local community and the Makirovana Association.  Recently, community patrols discovered illegal gold mines inside the protected area and police arrested two miners.  In retaliation, a larger group of miners launched violent attacks on villages around the area, destroying 88 houses and 10 native tree nurseries and reforestation sites. 

Help Indigenous Forest Defenders Rebuild After Violent Attack – Conservation Allies

Very pleased to learn that Dr. James Herrera will be continuing the excellent conservation work that Duke Lemur Center has been doing in the SAVA region over the past 14 years. Thank you, James!

https://lemur.duke.edu/james-herrera-conservation/

Excellent photos of a baby silky sifaka in Anjanaharibe-Sud. Thank you, Wildlife Madagascar!

74 species of frogs have been named to date from Marojejy, with probably many, many more yet to be discovered. Here’s a great poster showing some of the hundreds of frogs found in Madagascar. Thank you, Dr. Mark Scherz!

https://www.redbubble.com/i/poster/Some-Frogs-of-Madagascar-to-Scale-Version-2-0-by-markscherz/172867949.G7H47

A new study which integrates local ecological knowledge from the Marojejy area to show the relationships between biodiversity, land use, and human livelihoods, this is well worth the read.

An exquisite little video from Raherilala Oriel, with stunning aerial footage of Marojejy’s rainforests around the Cascade de Humbert and Camp Marojejia.

The Rainforests of the Atsinanana (which includes Marojejy) were designated a World Heritage Site in 2007, and since 2010 have been listed as a “World Heritage Site in Danger” due to illegal logging and poaching of endangered lemurs. They have now been removed from the list of sites in danger.

While this might be seen as good news in one sense — allowing the Rainforests of Antsinanana to retain their important status as a World Heritage Site — we cannot ignore the fact that deforestation continues to be a serious problem in many areas, including Marojejy.

Read the IUCN press release here:  https://iucn.org/press-release/202507/rainforests-atsinanana-madagascar-removed-list-world-heritage-danger

Notes on the excellent work that Duke Lemur Center is doing in the SAVA region around Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud. Many thanks to Charlie Welch for all he has done there over the past several decades!

Embracing adventure under the rainforest canopy of Camp Indri

There where they sing

This must have been a truly magical trip: lots of time to absorb the sights and sounds of Marojejy’s incredible rainforest.

An important new study from an area around Marojejy National Park shows that introduced species of small mammals like rats in degraded forests could spread hantavirus and other pathogens to wildlife and people.  Funded in part by the U.S. National Institute of Health and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Could Restoring Forests Reduce Disease Risk? A Case Study of Hantavirus in Madagascar – Research Blog

We are saddened to learn that the beautiful rainforests of Anjanaharibe-Sud have become the tragic scene of violence.

Article in L’Express de Madagascar:  Un policier lynché par des exploitants illégaux

An informative presentation on rainforest regeneration in Marojejy. Thank you to Kat Culbertson of the University of California and to the Lemur Conservation Foundation for this important work.

Excellent information and great work!

It’s great to see more improvements being made to the camps in Marojejy. Many thanks to the Lemur Conservation Foundation and to the local guides and porters for maintaining this beautiful site!

A beautiful short video of the silky sifakas, indris and white-fronted brown lemurs in Marojejy’s sister park, Anjanaharibe-Sud — an uplifting message of hope. Thank you to Wildlife Madagascar for all you are doing.