RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK

RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK

Vatoharanana Site

BRIEF HISTORY:

The main research station is located near the village of Ranomafana (meaning "hot water") in southeastern Madagascar near Fianarantsoa. The forest around Ranomafana was first surveyed by a Duke University research team headed by Patricia Wright during the summer of 1986. Through Dr. Wright's efforts, the area became designated a National Park in 1991.

Dr. Wright (State University of New York- Stony Brook) developed the Talatakely (meaning "little Tuesday) field station as part of her studies on the behavioral ecology of Milne Edward's sifaka and bamboo lemurs. In 1988, a satellite camp called Vatoharanana (meaning "crystal rock") was first used by Dr. Frances White (Duke University) who was studying black and white ruffed lemurs. That same year Dr. Overdorff began her study of brown and red-bellied lemurs and has continued to develop the Vatoharanana site.

Vatoharanana

The Vatoharanana study area is characterized as Central Domain forest and Monimiaceae, Cunoniaceae, Lauraceae, and Myrtaceae are predominant plant families. Annual rainfall is unimodal, with drier periods occurring between April and September and the wettest months occurring between October and March. The current study area encompasses a 5 km²trail system. There are twelve species of prosimian primate that occur in the National Park area but not all of them are found in the Vatoharanana study area. Further details of the area and what would be needed if you were to work there can be found in the Vatoharanana site field study guide page.

The following species are found at the site:

Eulemur fulvus rufus (brown, rufous, or red-fronted lemur)

Lives in groups of 4-16 individuals (multiple adult males and females).
Offspring are cared for by the mother exclusively and are born primarily in September. The mating season occurs in May.
Home ranges in this area are quite large: core areas are approximately 40 ha and overall home ranges are 100 ha +.
Diet is comprised primarily of fruit.
This species is cathemeral (active night and day).
There is no discernable dominance hierarchy but females tend to coordinate group movements.

Eulemur rubriventer (the red-bellied lemur)

Lives in small family groups (2-5 individuals).

Males help care for infants by carrying them. Infants are born in September and the mating season occurs in May.

Home ranges are approximately 20 ha and both males and females defend borders.

This species is cathemeral.

Both males and females migrate from their natal group when they are 2.5 years old and remain solitary for several years.

Diet is comprised primarily of fruit.

Females also coordinate group movements and are dominant to males.

Hapalemur griseus (the gentle gray bamboo lemur)

Can live in groups of up to 7 individuals with more than one adult male and female.
Infants at this site have been born from October- December.
Diet is comprised primarily of liana bamboo species.
This species appears to be diurnal at this site.

Propithecus diadema edwardsi (Milne Edward's sifaka)

Lives in groups of 3-7 individuals with more than one adult male and female.
Home ranges during the dry season are approximately 25-30 ha.
Diet is comprised primarily of fruit and seeds.
Females are not consistently dominate to males although they do coordinate group movements between feeding sites.

Varecia variegata variegata (black and white ruffed lemur)