The Lemur that Came Back from Oblivion

Research is a primary component in conservation. Here is yet another example of constant research helping conservation. Researchers from McGill University have rediscovered a species of lemur, Sibree's Dwarf Lemur, more than a century after it was last spotted.

Sibree's Dwarf Lemur was first described in 1896, but no follow up measures were taken to study the species. Meanwhile lot of deforestation took place in the area and the species was not seen at all. The belief was that the species has gone extinct.

One dwarf lemurs at Tsinjoarivo, in Eastern Madagascar intrigued Dr Mitchell Irwin of McGill University who was doing explorative research in the area. He had an ankling that it was a new species. Genetic analysis of the species by Linn Groeneveld of the German Primate Center found the lemur to be the Sibree's Dwarf Lemur. Conservationists around the world are elated.

Scientists say without this genetic study, this species probably would have gone extinct in the near future.

Details of the discovery appear in the current issue of the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.