Greater Bamboo Lemurs (Prolemur simus). Recent discovery, Lemur, Primate, Madagascar. The Greater Bamboo Lemurs lives in a maze of bamboo in the rainforests of Madagascar. These primates are the only lemurs being able to crack the hard fibers of giant bamboo that are their favored food. Copyright: Jonathan Linus Fiely

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a previously unknown population of Greater bamboo lemurs in Madagascar more than 400 kilometres from the only other place where the Critically Endangered species is known to live, greatly raising hopes for its survival.

The researchers believe there are 30-40 greater bamboo lemurs in the Torotorofotsy wetland, which is far to the north of the isolated pockets of bamboo forest where the rest of the known populations of the species live.

“Finding the extremely rare Bamboo lemur in a place where nobody expected it was probably more exciting than discovering a new lemur species,” said conservation geneticist Edward Louis of Henry Doorly Zoo, who coordinated the joint research mission that found the new population.

For more details, see Wildlife Extra.