Aye Aye lemur or Daubentonia madagascariensis ( revised on February 2012 )

 

Is a lemur in spite of its rodent teeth, its big owl eyes, its very large hypersensitive bat ears and its thick tail. It belongs to a monotypic family : the Daubentoniidae family. So Aye Aye is distinct from all other primates. Because of this strange morphology Aye Aye is one of the most unusual mammals on Earth.

Aye Aye is the largest nocturnal lemur. It has a dark grey-brown coat. Nowadays there is just few individuals of this species in the world. Aye Aye lemur lives in the primary evergreen rainforests and in the worn out deciduous dry forests of Madagascar. Sometimes too you can found them in degraded and cultivated areas like lychee and coconut plantations.

The most indicated spot for its observation is NORTHERN MANANARA ( or MANGABE ISLAND ). And if you are lucky, in humid forest of Montagne d'Ambre, or in deciduous forest of Ankarana, or in Bemaraha Tsingy National Park, or in Tsiombikibo forest near Mitsinjo-Soalala. But Aye Aye is one of the most difficult lemurs to see in the wild.   Aye Aye lemur is strictly nocturnal and it is a solitary animal. It builds its nest ( made of dead leaves and branches ) in a crotch of the large trees in dense tangles ( between 7 and 20m from the ground ). Large trees contain up to six nests wich are occupied for several days. They scent-mark regularly through urination.

 

Aye Aye lemur ( Madagascar )

 

Gives birth to only one baby per range with a 160 - 170 gestation days. The mother breeds its little baby with its breasts situated between its posterior legs. Infant remains with mother for long period, allowing them to learn the complex foraging techniques needed for survival.

If you see two Aye Aye lemurs in a nest, it will be the mother & its baby. Male Aye Aye has large home ranges : 125 to 215ha and it is capable of travelling 2 - 4km per night. Female home ranges is smaller : 30 to 50ha.

Except for the Aye aye Lemur and the Lac Alaotra Gentle Lemur, lemurs are seasonal breeders with very short mating and birth seasons influenced by the highly seasonal availability of resources in their environment. Males and females of Aye Aye lemur may mate with several partners.

 

Madagascar : the Tsingy, Nosy Be area, Baobab
Here is the Black and white ruffed lemur

 

 

Aye Aye lemur ( Madagascar )

 

Has a short and piercing cry when it is afraid. Vocalisations are short « cree-cree-cree » lasting just 2 to 3 seconds. And their activity begins up to 30mn before sunset.

It has 18 teeth including 14 molar mashers, 2 upper incisors and 2 lower incisors ; all the 4 incisors are very long and cutting. They help Aye Aye to shear the barks, to pierce the coconuts.

Diet consists mainly of nectar from Traveller's Tree Ravenala madagascariensis, interior of Ramy nuts Canarium madagascariensis, fungi and insect grubs, lychees, mango and coconut plantations. Head/body length of Aye Aye is from 300 to 370mm and tail length is from 440 to 530mm. Its weight is about 2.5kg.

 

 

Aye Aye lemur ( Madagascar )

 

Has 5 very long skeletal fingers which finished by claws, the 3rd thinger can rotates in all directions ( 360 ° ). It uses this finger to excavate cavities and to catch larvaes from holes, insects or the pulp of fruits ( especially coconuts, cane sugar, mangos and lychees ). It uses its large ears to locating insect larvae in dead wood.

Up to 80 % of night spent travelling and foraging in upper canopy. Also descends to ground and sometimes covers large distances. It is virtually certain that Aye Aye species ( unique in the world ) was driven to extinction by human action.

Where to see AYE AYE LEMURS ?

 

Madagascar, a nature sanctuary, IS FAMOUS for its lemurs, for its Baobabs, and for its fauna and flora where most of them are endemic, you can not find them anywhere else.   I propose you THE BEST itinerary in just 8-days-tour ( Antananarivo airport - Antananarivo airport ) to see maximum lemurs species including THE VERY RARE Aye Aye nocturnal lemur which you will find in the nature in this Tour, it's an exceptional experience in life, an animal that you will find and take in photos only here in Madagascar.   In this Tour you will see and appreciate two different landscapes : the western dry forest and the eastern evergreen rainforest which is completely different from the first one. With four visits : - Kirindy dry forest (nocturnal and diurnal walks) - The famous Baobabs Avenue at sunset and other baobabs - Andasibe Natural Park (nocturnal and diurnal walks) and - Palmarium lemurs Park. The Tour can be customized for your number of people. Accomodation in extra cost.

D1: Tana - Antsirabe Welcome at Tana airport, change then direct drive to Antsirabe D2: Antsirabe - Kirindy Early morning departure. Kirindy forest wildlife nocturnal walk D3: Kirindy - Morondava Kirindy forest a.m. The sacred baobab, the twins-baobabs and the famous ‘Baobabs Avenue’ at sunset D4: Morondava - Antsirabe D5: Antsirabe - Tana - Andasibe Andasibe wildlife nocturnal walk D6: Andasibe - Pangalanes Andasibe Park NP a.m. to see the biggest lemur in the world. Drive and boat to the Pangalanes. Nocturnal walk to see the rare Aye Aye lemur D7: Pangalanes - Andasibe Palmarium lemurs Park a.m. Boat and drive back p.m. D8: Andasibe - Tana Drive back to Tana with a possible direct transfer to Tana airport

 

Price : 1450 Euros for 2 Persons   TAKE WITH YOU : Anti-mosquito spray and cream, pocket torch and spare batteries, head torch if possible, light clothes as well as clothes to keep you warm ( for the nights ), cameras, small good padlocks for your luggage, your personal medicines ( current antibiotics, antidiarrhoea, antiseptics, Betadine, compresses and cotton, purifying tablets, ointment for sprains, lip salve and other personal medicines, protect yourself against malaria, e.g. follow a treatment ) sun cream, sun glasses, walking shoes or closed sports shoes, binoculars, k-way or raincoat, hat or cap, AND cash money = euros.