The Lemur Conservation Foundation continued to celebrate lemurs this month by helping to sponsor the World Lemur Festival in Andapa, Madagascar on November 16. Results were tremendous this year with over 1,000 participants.
The Andapa festival began with a large parade with many groups (students, environment and women’s clubs, and more) dressed in lemur-themed outfits. In the city hall many activities occurred including a dance competition, lemur art contests, poetry/story contests, and question and answer sessions. There were refreshments and prizes for the children.
The primary sponsors were the Lemur Conservation Foundation, Madagascar National Parks, World Wildlife Fund, Duke Lemur Center, and Symrise, with support from SOS Lemurs initiative, along with a number of other local organizations. This year LCF incorporated several proactive conservation activities such as distributing 48 ADES fuel-efficient stoves and 27 women chose to receive family planning services / contraceptive methods from Marie Stopes Madagascar providers.
LCF has supported the Andapa event for several years and, in October of this year, sponsored its 2nd Annual World Lemur Festival in Sarasota, Florida. The festivals are held around the globe in the weeks surrounding World Lemur Day, which takes place annually on the last Friday in October.
The town of Andapa (population estimated to be over 27,500) is located in the SAVA Region of northeastern Madagascar, home to Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve and Marojejy National Park, areas that are the focus of much of LCF’s lemur conservation initiatives. SAVA is an acronym for the four major towns in the area: Sambava, Antalaha, Vohémar and Andapa.