@ARTICLE{10.21494/ISTE.OP.2018.0243, TITLE={Art for the conservation of one of the most endangered lemurs}, AUTHOR={Delphine Roullet, }, JOURNAL={Art and Science}, VOLUME={2}, NUMBER={Issue 1
}, YEAR={2018}, URL={http://www.openscience.fr/Art-for-the-conservation-of-one-of-the-most-endangered-lemurs}, DOI={10.21494/ISTE.OP.2018.0243}, ISSN={2515-8767}, ABSTRACT={The Bamboo lemur program led by Helpsimus is based in southeast Madagascar, near Ranomafana National Park, within an unprotected and intensively cultivated area that is home to the largest wild population of greater bamboo lemur, Prolemur simus. Key elements are combined to guarantee its long-term success: scientific monitoring of the species, habitat protection, transfer of management responsibility to local communities, development aid for local communities, support to children’s education. Our education component also includes environmental awareness. A “Simus Day” was created in 2013 and has since become the biggest annual festive event in the area where Helpsimus operates. During this day of celebration, the children of the 5 schools but also local bands from the villages with which we collaborate, are invited to perform dance, music and theatre play on greater bamboo lemurs and their protection. We also work with a Malagasy painter who has created several frescoes on the greater bamboo lemurs in the primary schools supported by Helpsimus. Moreover, our education component is not restricted to Madagascar. Since 2015, it extends to several French schools located in small French cities. It begun with exchange of letters between schools which was soon followed by a support to Madagascan schools when the French children discovered the problems faced by their new fellows in their daily life. The French children decided to collect various materials and organised fundraising events that contributed, in particular, to finance the opening of a school canteen. Then, they have created an original play about the connections they have built with the Malagasy children. In France, we organised a couple of exhibitions with several artists: photographers and painters. Finally, we are developing a craft project as a part of our ecotourism program including the production of an original bracelet from local seeds, imagined by a French designer. The program Bamboo Lemur led to the emergence of various artistic performances and projects involving different people for the same goal the protection of a very rare lemur.}}