I didn’t know much about lemurs until my niece, Debra Erickson, founded Wildlife Madagascar, a conservation organization dedicated to protecting Madagascar’s wildlife, restoring forests, and supporting community-led conservation solutions.
When Debra retired after working at the San Diego Zoo, I sent her a check for her next project or for a retirement treat. I didn’t fill out the To: line so she could use the check for either one.
She wrote in Wildlife Madagascar and I became the organization’s first member.
In September, I attended the fourth anniversary party of Wildlife Madagascar in San Diego. I’ve also been to book-signing parties offered in the spring.
Due to threats, such as habitat loss, illegal logging, poaching, fires, and climate pressures, 95 percent of lemur species are threatened,
Wildlife Madagascar now has four field sites where its 75 Malagasy team members are safeguarding more than 150,000 acres of Madagascar’s irreplaceable forests, home to 25 lemur species found nowhere else on the planet.
Wildlife Madagascar now has 700 members, with a 40 percent increase in 2025.
Please consider joining Wildlife Madagascar and contributing to its important work.
Photo: Debra Erickson, executive director of Wildlife Madagascar, giving a presentation at the organization’s fourth anniversary party.
