Last 50 Lavasoa Lemurs; Balkan Lynx Conservation; and good news for Nepali Tigers

Three interesting articles….

Researchers have discovered a new — and critically endangered — species of lemur on the island of Madagascar. The primate is formally described in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. The Lavasoa Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis) inhabits three isolated forest fragments in the Lavasoa Mountains in southern Madagascar. Like other dwarf lemurs, the species is nocturnal, dwells in the forest canopy, and hibernates during the cool, dry season, living on fat reserves stored in its tail.

Over the past seven years a rare and charismatic wild cat – the Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) – is serving to unify countries with troubled historical and political relations. Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro are collaborating on a joint conservation strategy for the Critically Endangered animal.

Nepal records remarkable growth in tiger numbers
July 2013. An encouraging announcement from the Government of Nepal put the number of wild tigers in the country at 198, though there may be anywhere from 163 – 235 tigers allowing for errors. This marks an increase in the population of 63% since the last survey in 2009.

Jon