Sandbank Times - Edition 6

Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, October 2, 2006: Judging by their devil-may-care gestures and dismissive attitudes towards onlookers, it seems that the lemurs of Berenty Reserve can now be completely discounted as potential predators to man.

A recent visit by a Sandbank Times writer found that most of the lemurs are now busy tending to their young, who are born in the months of August and September, and have little or no concern about what threat tourists might pose to their well-being.

The Reserve, located inland from Fort Dauphin in the arid Androy region, sees thousands of tourists each year passing through its red and white barriers. Since the practice of enticing lemurs with bananas ceased over a decade ago in the park, it seems now that the lemurs are contenting themselves with more basic, less exotic fare, such as dry leaves and tamarind fruit.

One could almost say that the tourists and the lemurs have struck a near symbiotic relationship. Tourists are free to roam unmolested through the park at all hours of the day, and lemurs can now enjoy a rock and roll lifestyle supported by the copious amounts of revenue generated from visitors.

Berenty’s fruit bats, on the other hand, with wingspans reaching up to four feet, must be approached with greater caution. Tourists are warned that the bats cannot be charmed.