Just for the sake of procrastination:
Marojejy National Park is located in northeastern Madagascar, between the towns of Sambava and Andapa. The park is centered around Marojejy Massif, a mountain chain that reaches 2,132 m (6,995 ft). Although it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007, illegal logging and trafficking of valuable hardwoods is on the rise since the political crisis of 2009. Deforestation is among the top threats for wildlife living in the park and throughout Madagascar. Since humans made it to the island about 2,000 years ago, all of Madagascar's large
endemic animals have become extinct, including seventeen giant lemur species.
Perhaps one of the least studied and most threatened species today is Propithecus candidus, or the silky sifaka. It lives at some of the highest elevations in the heart of Marojejy National Park, making research on this species very difficult. It was not until Dr. Erik Patel began working at this site in 2001 that comprehensive studies increased our understanding of this rare prosimian. Simpona was subsequently started and has since taken on the responsibility of research, conservation, and education in the area.
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| Marojejy Massif |
In January 2012 Erik was hired to be the Post Doctoral Project Manager for Duke University Lemur Center's conservation program in the SAVA region. If you want to learn more about conservation and what Erik has been doing for the last ten years, watch this documentary: Angels of the Forest
