Notes from the artist, Jenny Kendler: This print was inspired by the two traits of the Indri that I found most compelling and magical, the Indri's "sun-worshiping" behavior, and their hauntingly alluring calls. The face of the larger Indri seems almost cartoonish and exaggerated, but it is directly inspired by a photograph. What an amazing expression!
About The Madagascar Fauna Group: MFG works extensively in Madagascar's Betampona Reserve, home to a population of Indri which has been the focus of several of MFG's research projects. They have been able to collar 20 individual Indris, in order to facilitate all-day tracking, leading to a much deeper understanding of habitat use and ranging patterns. MFG's recent research has yielded some very exciting findings, as well as important data for the development of the Reserve’s conservation management plan, an important part of saving the Indri.
CLICK HERE to add this print to your cart and pay online, or CLICK HERE to pay by check.
About The Madagascar Fauna Group: MFG works extensively in Madagascar's Betampona Reserve, home to a population of Indri which has been the focus of several of MFG's research projects. They have been able to collar 20 individual Indris, in order to facilitate all-day tracking, leading to a much deeper understanding of habitat use and ranging patterns. MFG's recent research has yielded some very exciting findings, as well as important data for the development of the Reserve’s conservation management plan, an important part of saving the Indri.
CLICK HERE to add this print to your cart and pay online, or CLICK HERE to pay by check.
ABOUT THE INDRI LEMUR
The Indri is one of the largest lemurs in existence. It is known for it's striking black and white coloration and it's eerie and hauntingly beautiful song, which can be heard over a mile away. Indris are tree dwelling animals, and unlike the related Sifaka Lemurs, they do not move along the ground, preferring to travel from tree to tree in incredible leaps that can be up to 33 feet long. Indris tend to live in groups of two to six, generally consisting of monogamous pairs and their offspring. They spend most of their time in the tree canopy, eating immature leaves, supplemented by flowers, fruit, seeds and bark.
The word indri is a corruption of the Malagasy word iry, meaning "there" or "there it is." Naturalist Pierre Sonnerat heard a Malagasy point out the animal and took the word to be its name. The original Malagasy name for the animal is Babakoto (pronounced baba-koot) which is most commonly translated as "ancestor," "father" or "ancestor of man." The many origin myths of the Indri help to explain this unusual and interesting name.
Across Madagascar, the Indri is held to be a special creature and is protected by fady (taboo). Many variations exist of the legend recounting the Indri's origins, but the one thing held common is that the Indri is a sacred animal, not to be hunted or eaten.
Though varied in their narrative, most legends establish a relationship between the Indri and human beings. One story tells of two brothers who lived together until one brother decided to leave the forest to farm the land. That brother became the first human, and the brother who stayed in the forest became the first Indri. According to this legend, the Indri's haunting cries are in mourning for his brother who went astray.
Despite these taboos, many people in the modern age still do engage in the hunting and killing of these rare creatures. As fady breaks down, the threat from hunting increases. Recent information indicates the the flesh and skins if the Indri are considered highly prized in some regions. The current rates of hunting are unsustainable and add to the already considerable pressure of habitat loss.
Another human-like characteristic of the Indri is a behavior often referred to as sun-worshiping. Each morning, the Indri will sit and face the rising sun from high in the canopy, its legs crossed, back straight, hands low with palms resting on its knees, eyes half-closed, in a posture similar to that of a meditating Buddhist monk. Biologists hesitate to call this behavior "sun-worship", as this description is overly anthropomorphic. However, many Malagasy people believe that the Indri does indeed worship the sun.
The Indri's low birth rate (females give birth to a single offspring every two to three years) and inability to survive in captivity, increase the threat to the survival of this already rare animal. Though exact numbers are not known due to a lack of data, Indri populations are estimated to be between 1000 and 10,000, with most of the animals residing in the Analamazaotra special reserve and surrounding forest. Despite what may initially seem like a large number of remaining Indris, scientists consider the Indri to be highly endangered. Recent political turmoil is an additional threat, as the emerging eco-tourism industry struggles, and some locals turn to the wildlife preserves for firewood and bushmeat during this tumultuous time. The Indri Lemur needs all the help it can get. 100% of the purchase price of your Indri print will go towards the conservation of these wonderful creatures.
The Indri is one of the largest lemurs in existence. It is known for it's striking black and white coloration and it's eerie and hauntingly beautiful song, which can be heard over a mile away. Indris are tree dwelling animals, and unlike the related Sifaka Lemurs, they do not move along the ground, preferring to travel from tree to tree in incredible leaps that can be up to 33 feet long. Indris tend to live in groups of two to six, generally consisting of monogamous pairs and their offspring. They spend most of their time in the tree canopy, eating immature leaves, supplemented by flowers, fruit, seeds and bark.
The word indri is a corruption of the Malagasy word iry, meaning "there" or "there it is." Naturalist Pierre Sonnerat heard a Malagasy point out the animal and took the word to be its name. The original Malagasy name for the animal is Babakoto (pronounced baba-koot) which is most commonly translated as "ancestor," "father" or "ancestor of man." The many origin myths of the Indri help to explain this unusual and interesting name.
Across Madagascar, the Indri is held to be a special creature and is protected by fady (taboo). Many variations exist of the legend recounting the Indri's origins, but the one thing held common is that the Indri is a sacred animal, not to be hunted or eaten.
Though varied in their narrative, most legends establish a relationship between the Indri and human beings. One story tells of two brothers who lived together until one brother decided to leave the forest to farm the land. That brother became the first human, and the brother who stayed in the forest became the first Indri. According to this legend, the Indri's haunting cries are in mourning for his brother who went astray.
Despite these taboos, many people in the modern age still do engage in the hunting and killing of these rare creatures. As fady breaks down, the threat from hunting increases. Recent information indicates the the flesh and skins if the Indri are considered highly prized in some regions. The current rates of hunting are unsustainable and add to the already considerable pressure of habitat loss.
Another human-like characteristic of the Indri is a behavior often referred to as sun-worshiping. Each morning, the Indri will sit and face the rising sun from high in the canopy, its legs crossed, back straight, hands low with palms resting on its knees, eyes half-closed, in a posture similar to that of a meditating Buddhist monk. Biologists hesitate to call this behavior "sun-worship", as this description is overly anthropomorphic. However, many Malagasy people believe that the Indri does indeed worship the sun.
The Indri's low birth rate (females give birth to a single offspring every two to three years) and inability to survive in captivity, increase the threat to the survival of this already rare animal. Though exact numbers are not known due to a lack of data, Indri populations are estimated to be between 1000 and 10,000, with most of the animals residing in the Analamazaotra special reserve and surrounding forest. Despite what may initially seem like a large number of remaining Indris, scientists consider the Indri to be highly endangered. Recent political turmoil is an additional threat, as the emerging eco-tourism industry struggles, and some locals turn to the wildlife preserves for firewood and bushmeat during this tumultuous time. The Indri Lemur needs all the help it can get. 100% of the purchase price of your Indri print will go towards the conservation of these wonderful creatures.
