Silky sifakas are also very playful, even the adults have been observed playing for long periods. The same can't be said for mating though, silky sifakas are thought to only mate one day a year in either December or January, talk about a dry spell! Listen to a silky sifaka.
Why Silky Sifakas Need Our Help
Silky sifakas have the dubious honor as being one of the world's 25 most endangered primates. They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN as there are only 100 -1000 left. Silky sifakas have never bred in captivity so it is crucial that their habitat be saved which is in political turmoil and has been further destroyed by slash and burn agriculture and logging. Further complicating matters is that silky sifakas are only found in a few areas in Madascar, have a low birth rate and are hunted for food. Source/more info: Silky Sifaka: Conservation and Research in Madascar.
Help Save Silky Sifakas
- Volunteer for the Madascar Fauna Group (variety of positions available)
- Volunteer as a field researcher with Eric Patel, PhD Candidate at Cornell University
- Visit Marojejy National Park in Madascar as an eco-tourist to see silky sifakas and help promote tourism (the park has been closed to visitors due to turmoil so check before you go)
- Help fund research on silky sifakas
- Adopt a lemur (it's a ring tail lemur, but will still help the cause) through the WWF
- Buy your next mobile phone here (benefits the Madascar Fauna Group)
Silky sifaka photo courtesy of: RachelinMadascar
If you like primates you might also like: Cute Monkey Pictures Monkey Mountain in Germany and Observing Endangered Samango Monkeys in iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
