Eulemur cinereiceps [female and juvenale male].

The gray-headed brown lemur, Eulemur cinereiceps, listed as one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates since 2004, has the most restricted range of any Eulemur species. A little isolated population is found in Manombo, Agnalazaha and Vohipaho forest. These three littoral forests have the same vegetation structure and grow in the same substratum, sands and swamp. In 2012, its census revealed 118 individuals in Agnalazaha, with 7, 7 individuals/km2. Manombo forest Eulemur cinereiceps’ density raises up to 10, 9±4, 7 individuals/km2. None is known about Vohipaho.

Eulemur cinereiceps [male].

Vohipaho forest is located in the southeastern coast of Madagascar, in about 30Km south of Vangahindrano district. One of the largest remaining littoral forests in Madagascar, it measures 2700Ha. Even bigger than Agnalazaha forest, no lemur survey has been conducted in Vohipaho forest because of the difficulty access and the lack of appropriate camping place within the 2700ha of forest. However, the Missouri Botanical Garden reported that this forest has been overexploited by local population of three Communes which rise up to more 7000 people. Therefore, the slash, burn and tavy highly threat Eulemur cinereiceps survival.

This project is the first investigation of lemur studies in such potential E. cinereiceps’ range. As the first scientific research, it aims to improve the forest management already undertaken by the MBG by providing sufficient data to the decision makers for the elaboration of further conservation plan. In order to assess the current conservation status of this species in Vohipaho, we will count the total number of Eulemur cinereiceps population living in, by using direct count methods and create a zoning projected map of its density level by using standard SIG technics. The habitat health will be evaluated within ten randomly implemented transect lines of 10mx100, in which sample, vegetation structures and dynamics will be studied and habitat pressures and Eulemur cinereiceps’ threats will be measured.