News Release

Photo Note: See URL below to download a photo of the lemur.

Expert on endangered flora, fauna
of Madagascar to host program Nov. 4

CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s N.C. Botanical Garden is offering an opportunity to spend an evening amid the flora and fauna of Madagascar – and without even boarding an airplane.

"The Wild Places of Madagascar," to be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 4, is a two-part slide show and presentation by Charlie Welch of the Duke University Primate Center. The presentation is designed to acquaint people with the flora, fauna and culture – 18 significant ethnic groups live there – of the island nation and to highlight international efforts to reintroduce the native black and white lemur.

Light refreshments will be served during the program’s intermission.

Madagascar is an island about the size of Texas off the southeast coast of Africa, and virtually all of its native species, including the black and white lemur, are threatened with extinction, largely as a result of deforestation.

As reported on the Duke center’s Web site, Madagascar is home to more than 70 different kinds of lemurs that are found nowhere else. About 90 percent of Madagascar’s other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants also are found only in Madagascar. Only about 17 percent of the original vegetation remains, according to the Web site.

A research scientist at the Duke University Primate Center, Welch is responsible for developing and directing long-term international conservation, education and research programs for endangered lemurs and other Malagasy fauna. For 15 years, he lived in Madagascar while serving as technical adviser to the Madagascar Fauna Group, an international consortium of zoos and related institutions working together to conserve lemurs and the other spectacular wildlife and wild places of Madagascar.

Welch has said that saving endangered fauna involves a lot more than the animals themselves. Habitat conservation is essential, he has said, and the people who share habitat with the animals have to be involved in conservation efforts.

"[From our experience in Madagascar,] we came to see that conservation of endangered species can’t succeed without great attention to detail in the local cultural context," he said.

Pre-registration is required for the Nov. 4 event, and admission is $15 for the public and $13.50 for botanical garden members. Those interested in registering should call (919) 962-0522.

The N.C. Botanical Garden is located off the US 15-501 Bypass at Old Mason Farm Road. For information on directions or on this or other botanical garden programs, visit www.ncbg.unc.edu.

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Photo URL: To download a photo, go to: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/other/ruffed%20inquisitive.jpg 
http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/other/GoldenCrownedSifaka.jpg  

N.C. Botanical Garden contact: Laura Cotterman, (919) 962-0522 or lmcotter@email.unc.edu