Helping lemurs and communities in Madagascar's Rainforests thrive
Dr Ayesha Tulloch in Madagascar with a friendly black-and-white ruffed lemur Varecia Variegata.
Native to Madagascar, lemurs rely on old-growth rainforests for food eating only fruit and leaves. However, most of Madagascar's old-growth rainforests have been replaced by agriculture, forestry, human infrastructure and settlements, and mining.
For this project, the lemur species Dr Tulloch is working to conserve is the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Variecia Variegata), which are critically endangered.
"These lemurs have declined by 80% in the last 27 years due to habitat loss from slash and burn agriculture and hunting for bushmeat."
The other lemurs in the area are red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur Rufifrons), listed as near threatened species, and the eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur Griseus), which are vulnerable.
From left to right: black-and-white ruffed lemur (Variecia Variegata), red-fronted lemur (Eulemur Rufifrons) and eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur Griseus).
"My work has taken me from Australia's desert rangelands to Madagascar's rainforests to help organisations, governments and farmers deliver better outcomes for wildlife."
Navigating the area's development is a critical factor in the future of lemur conservation to ensure the best results for both humans and wildlife.
"My work has taken me from Australia's desert rangelands to Madagascar's rainforests to help organisations, governments and farmers deliver better outcomes for wildlife."
In Madagascar, she's collaborating with non-government conservation organisations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Conservation International, as well as African government agencies. Together, they are producing training materials for integrating biodiversity into land-use planning decision-making, and maps that indicate the highest priority places for protecting lemurs.
Rice paddies in Madagascar that have replaced lemur habitat.
"It is critical to balance the needs of people for development and access to resources and protect lemurs from further habitat loss."
"These teams are building tools and educational material that are making a difference in how we manage the land."
Dr Tulloch is an Alumna for the School of Life and Environmental Science and an Honorary Associate. She is also a member of Australia’s Threatened Species Index and the Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group.
Dr Tulloch was awarded the 2021 NSW Young Tall Poppy of the Year Award and is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Fellow specialising in the use of ecological knowledge to inform conservation decision-making processes.
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