GOLDEN-CROWNED or TATTERSALL'S SIFAKA

Propithecus tattersalli Simons 1988

Order PRIMATES

Family INDRIIDAE

SUMMARY

The Golden-crowned or Tattersall's Sifaka is a newly described species with a very limited distribution around Daraina, in the north-east of Madagascar. Probably only a few hundred individuals exist and these are threatened by hunting, bush fires and clearance of the forest. Little is known about their ecology or social organization. It is suggested that a National Park be set up to protect them. Duke Primate Center has the only three individuals known to be in captivity. Included in Appendix I of CITES, on Class A of the African Convention and is protected by Malagasy law.

DISTRIBUTION

Confined to an approximately oval-shaped area with a diameter of about 25 kms, around Daraina in the north-east of Madagascar (Simons, 1988). In 1974, Tattersall found a population of this species in dry forest near Daraina, 30 km north-east of Vohimarina (Vohémar), though it was not recognized as a separate species when he reported the sighting in 1982. In 1987, a group from Duke Primate Center found P. tattersalli individuals in the forest from about 6-7 km north-cast of Daraina to approximately 5 km east of Daraina (Simons, 1988). In addition, the Duke team saw the Golden-crowned Sifaka 2 km east of the village of Ampandraha, a village 10 km north of Daraina (Meyers, in litt., suggests this is a misspelling of Ampandrabe) and were told by local people that the species was also found near Madirabe, 15 km east of Daraina (Simons, 1988). Simons (1988) reports sightings by Andre Peyrieras in two forests, one 5 km east of Ampandraha and the second 7 km north-east of Daraina on the road to Ambilobé (presumably the forest in which the Duke team saw the Sifakas).

POPULATION

It is estimated that a maximum of only several hundred individuals exist and these are in small and fragmented populations (Simons, 1988). Meyers and Ratsirarson (1988) report seeing 26 individuals along approximately 4 kms of trail in gallery forest near Daraina, a density that they consider high. Greatest numbers are found in the strip of forest north-east of Daraina, which is approximately 17 km in length and 7 km wide (Meyers, in litt.) .

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY

Tattersall's Sifaka is found in dry forests, but it makes extensive use of the gallery forest in the dry season at least (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). In a survey carried out in June and July of 1988, 26 individuals were seen along 4 km of trail in gallery forest, while only eight animals were seen in "large areas" of dry forest on the hills above the gallery forest (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). Little is known about the ecology of this species. In captivity it has been observed feeding at night as well as during the day, unlike captive P. verreauxi which feed only during the day (Simons, 1988). Simons (1988) suggested that this was an adaptation to escape high daytime temperatures in the dry forest or a response to human predation. Other species within the genus Propithecus eat mostly fruit and leaves and it is likely that the diet of P. tattersalli is similar. However, the individuals in captivity at Duke Primate Center did not initially accept ripe fruit (D. Meyers, in litt.), which suggests that this might not be taken naturally. As yet there arc only a few observations of the Golden-crowned Sifaka feeding in the wild. P. tattersalli was seen feeding on Poupartia caffra (sakoa tree) in the forest near Daraina and was reported to feed in groves of mango trees (Simons, 1988). Tattersall's Sifaka has been seen in groups of three to six individuals, mean size of eight groups was 4.1 (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988), but there is no information available on group composition.

THREATS

No population of this species exists in any protected area. Its limited geographical distribution means that it is one of the most severely threatened of the lemurs (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). The main threats to P. tattersalli include hunting, brush fires and competition for land with humans (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). Though the customs of the local people from near Daraina forbid the consumption of lemurs, this is not so for those attracted in from outside the area. Daraina is on the only east/west road in the region and gold is found nearby. Though the miners, exploiting this gold, seem to have limited their hunting to the smaller lemurs so far, this may easily change (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). The road between Ambilobé and Vohimarina (RN 5a) is due to be improved and easier access will almost certainly present an increased danger to P. tattersalli (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). Hunting by people from Ambilobé has, apparently, eliminated the populations of the Golden-crowned Sifaka in the region of Maromakotra, 30 km or so north-west of Daraina (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988).

Much of the area round the gallery forest in which the Golden-crowned Sifaka was seen in 1988 was already deforested (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988) and fires, some probably set to increase grass growth, ensure that regeneration of trees is inhibited. The gallery forest itself is being cleared for agricultural land because of its proximity to water and this forest may well be critical to the Sifaka, particularly during the dry season (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988).

CONSERVATION MEASURES

It is suggested that a National Park of approximately 20,000 ha, divided into three different blocks, be set up in the area of Daraina to protect P. tattersalli (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). The Reserve would have to be well guarded and have clearly marked boundaries. In addition, education programs are needed to increase the awareness of the local people to the economic and environmental importance of the forests (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988).

Methods of sustainable use of the land around the proposed park need to be developed (Meyers and Ratsirarson, 1988). Surveys to locate further populations are needed, as is an extensive ecological study of the species. Simons (1988) considers that the only hope against certain extinction of the species is a captive breeding programme combined with relocation of populations in Madagascar. However, the mortality rate of wild caught Sifakas taken into captivity remains high and there is little if any evidence that captive bred individuals could be successfully returned to a suitable area in Madagascar.

All species of Indriidae are listed in Appendix 1 of the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Trade in them, or their products, is subject to strict regulation and may not be carried out for primarily commercial purposes.

All Lemuroidea are listed in Class A of the African Convention, 1969. They may not therefore, be hunted, killed, captured or collected without the authorization of the highest competent authority, and then only if required in the national interest or for scientific purposes.

Malagasy law protects all lemurs from killing or unauthorized capture, but this is difficult to enforce.

CAPTIVE BREEDING

There are three Golden-crowned Sifakas in captivity, one adult male and two females, all at Duke Primate Center (Simons, in litt.). Two are wild caught individuals and the third was born at the Center in July 1988 to the female caught earlier that month. The juvenile, in April 1989, is reported to be nearly adult size and doing well (Simons, in litt.).

REMARKS

Initially attributed provisionally to the candidus subspecies of Propithecus diadema (Tattersall, 1982), but now considered to be a separate species (Simons, 1988). P. tattersalli is quite considerably smaller than P. diadema, mean weight of eight specimens of the former is recorded as 3.3 kg as opposed to 5.8 kg for the latter (Simons, 1988). Tattersall's Sifaka is mostly white with a gold or orange crown on its head and a wash of golden-orange across its upper chest and rump (Simons, 1988). It has completely furred ears with long hair tufts extending beyond their tips (Simons, 1988). For a more complete description of P. tattersalli and a comparison with other Propithecus species see Simons (1988). The holotype is at the American Museum of Natural History. The Malagasy name of this species is ankomba malandy (Simons, 1988).