Black-and-white ruffed lemur in Madagascar

What remains wild. Black-and-white ruffed lemur in Madagascar

One moment the canopy is still, and the next, a burst of black and white shoots through it like a living exclamation mark. That's the black-and-white ruffed lemur, a primate that doesn't shy away from announcing itself with raucous calls. Its coat comes in bold patches, and the thick ruff frames its face. Roughly 92% of the lemur's diet is fruit, with leaves, nectar, seeds and the occasional fungus making up the rest. When trees are heavy with figs and other seasonal offerings, this creature moves quickly through the dense forest. As it laps up nectar, pollen sticks to its snout, turning it into one of the habitat's most effective pollinators.

Many people recognise lemurs from the animated movie 'Madagascar,' but the real animal faces a much harsher reality. This tree-dwelling species is critically endangered. It survives in increasingly fragmented forests where habitat loss remains a constant threat driven by deforestation and hunting. Still, conservation groups are working to safeguard what remains, hoping the lemur's morning calls continue to ring out through the treetops.