Robin's Nest from American Humane - Hope for Lemurs: Prof. Ratsimbazafy on Conservation, Community, and the Future

Episode Date: October 6, 2025

In this inspiring episode of Robin’s Nest, Dr. Robin Ganzert sits down with Prof. Jonah Henri Ratsimbazafy, a world-renowned primatologist, conservation leader and lifelong champion for Madagascar��s extraordinary wildlife.As President of the Madagascar Primate Research Group (GERP) and the first African President of the International Primatological Society, Prof. Ratsimbazafy has spent more than 30 years leading groundbreaking efforts to protect endangered lemurs and safeguard biodiversity through science, education and community empowerment.From discovering new lemur species to mentoring the next generation of Malagasy conservationists, his work blends cultural pride, environmental stewardship and global collaboration. Together, Dr. Ganzert and Prof. Ratsimbazafy explore the urgent threats facing Madagascar’s wildlife, the power of community-driven conservation and the hope that drives his mission to protect one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth.If you care about the future of animals and our planet, this conversation will leave you inspired — and ready to take action.

I'm so excited to welcome my guest today, Professor Jonah Rotsambozafe, a true hero for Madagascar's incredible wildlife. He spent more than 30 years protecting endangered lemurs, leading community-driven conservation, and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders. As a Kiesling Prize finalist and the first African president of the International Prometological Society, Jonah's work is changing the future for both people and wildlife in Madagascar. Welcome to Robin's Nest. Many of us feel a deep bond with animals, from the pets we cherish at home to the endangered species in nature. Join us for lively informative conversations where together we will build a more humane world. Oh, I'm so excited about this episode of Robin's Nest because I'm with one of my personal heroes, in conservation, truly a worldwide leader in not only saving one endangered species, but having an

impact and system-wide change in a biodiversity hotspot that we all love. I am so proud to welcome Professor Jonah Rotsimba Zafi. It's here on Robin's Nest. Professor Jonah, I'm so thrilled to welcome you. Thank you for being here at Fair Oaks Farm today. My pleasure to be here. This is a beautiful place. Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, we're out in nature and of course so much of your work is in nature and you've had such an incredible, incredible journey to save one of the most beautiful species on the planet. The lemur! Do we have lemur fans listening today to Robin's Nest? Because they're precious, absolutely precious. Can you tell us about your love story for the lemurs? Lemurs for me it is part of my life and I am wondering my mission what is my mission

basically my background is paleontology I studied fossils and then when I started because when I was a kid my parents brought me to visit the zoo in Antananariv the capital of Madagascar. We saw, I saw lemurs and I thought that they're like cats or dogs, but they like love banana and jumped fast on trees. It's only until I was a student at the university, I realized that limers is unique endemic to Madagascar, just Madagascar. And then I went to the field to dig fossils. And we saw lemurs trapped and died. And I said, I told myself, let me save the living limers, but the dead lemurs can wait under the ground until I'm ready. And I switch from studying fossils

dead limous to live in limous. That's why I am primatologist. I study lemurs. And I could not stand for their call asking me help because they are endangered. Yes. And that is why

I become close to them. I love them and the purpose of my life is to say the limous. For me limous is not just a beautiful animals. It is a world proclamation and

I told myself, okay, I have to save them before it is too late. Because if lemurs disappear, all Madagascar ecosystem collapse. Because lemurs disperse seeds and lemurs maintain the integrity of the forest. So Madagascar revolt lemurs is not Madagascar. So I love them. I take care of them before it is too late.

So that is my job now. First of all, your journey to me is so intriguing because what you've described is you're going down one path, paleontology and the study of fossils. And you're finding in this study and in this work, you're finding fossils of lemurs. And that in turn allows you to open your heart and even your ears to hear the call of the lemur to save the remaining ones on on earth. That's such a great inspirational story, and I'm sure young people have to be inspired by your work. I know when I started out, it's so interesting.

I was fascinated by paleontology, too, and did fossil digs and thought in my undergraduate career, that was what I was going to study. And here we are today, saving live animals from the threats of extinction. So it's interesting how both of our journeys started with the love of fossils and understanding the power of the earth and all. Take our listeners to Madagascar and describe the beauty of this gorgeous spot on earth. I think Madagascar, the limbs choose to come to Madagascar. 50 million years ago

in Madagascar we do not have Statute of Liberty we do not have Ethel Tower we do not have Pyramid of Egypt we do not have the war of China but we have lemurs Yes we have limers

and the lemurs live now under big threats because more than 90% of the limous are on the brink of extension. 90% of the lemurs 90. Why? Because of deforestation? Yes.

Hunting and climate change. Limers are like fish. Fish cannot survive outside of the water. Right. And lemurs cannot survive outside of the water. head of the forest. But more than 90% of the forest in Madagascar, original forest, has been gone. Within the next 30 years, if the current speed of deforestation remains the same, there is no forest left in Madagascar. That means there is no limers left. So this is urgent. It's really urgent. There is no time. Waste time we have to act now. We have to do our job all together

and conservation is a team effort. I am just devastated by what you've just shared in terms of the threats facing the precious lemurs and the percentages that are facing the threats. May I ask you about the obstacles you're facing? You talk about deforestation. Those are big, big entities to fight, right? You're talking about climate change. That is so challenging and so paralyzing for so many of us trying to make an impact. Here we're at Fair Oaks Farm, thousands of miles away from Madagascar. We hear about this and we're all frightened. You're up against huge threats, huge obstacles to save these species. What are those specific threats and how are you tackling them?

The threats of the limers are, first of all, deforestation, habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. And because of that, 90% of our limers, which is unique for Madagascar, are on the brink of extinction. Lemurs like fish, fish cannot survive outside the water. Yes. And lemurs cannot survive outside of the forest. But we only have less than 10% of the original forest left in Madagascar, which means that within the next 35 years, if the current speed of deforestation remains the same, there is no forest left in Malagascar. 35 years. That is tomorrow.

And that is why we have to act fast, cleverly, no time. You don't have to waste our time. Yes. To do the job, we have to work together because conservation is a team effort. Yes. Researchers, zoos, and local communities. Yes. We have to work together to escape extinction.

and I am firm, strongly believe, but we can stop extinction. So the next generation could still see the limers. Is the government of Madagascar helpful? The government tried to do their best, and I helped the government to save the limers, but the people of Madagascar are very poor. Yes. And we have the sighing, starving, stomach has no ears. Where can I find the next meal for my children?

That's what I want to do. My children are starving to death. Yes. So I have to find food. And that's why they cut down the trees to do slash and burn. And they do that on and on and on. And finally, all the forest is gone. So we work, help the government to save this unique.

an endemic richness of Madagascar. And as you say, 30 years, it could all be gone. In 30 years. And 30 years, that is tomorrow. Yes, it literally is. And there would be no more lemurs in their natural wild. We want to save, and that is why we need to work in the zoo. Because researchers go into the field

to do research to collect critical data and the data that the researchers collect should turn into action yes and the zoo is a safe place to environment for the lemurs yes because in the zoo you can do research but we don't we cannot do in the world and actually today there are many zoo leaders to introduce animals back to the world, back to their native habitat. And that is why the working with the zoo is vital, crucial. And I am the Houston Zoo Madagascar Program Director. Yes.

I am a researcher and I work with the zoo and the local community. The local community, because once you bring them back, reintroduce them to the world, The local community is a responsible to safeguard and take care of them. And take care of them. And as again, as I said, the peoples are poor. You support the local community to improve their livelihood. Yes.

To educate the children, to empower them, to empower them. And because I believe that conservation is really a teamwork. Richers finding should go into action and the zoo can do the job and the local community. So I can, conservation is not a person concerned. It is a circle of conservation between many people. That is why we do work, delegate, train the young generation to attend our vision. you may have a vision, but you have to achieve the vision. The question is how to work all together, because conservation is your collective tasks,

which demands the involvement of all of us. You know what I really appreciate what you just said here in Robbins Nest is the role and the importance of good zoos and aquariums, helping to partner with local communities, helping to partner with these biodiversity hotspots that are in such. a need of urgent response, and these good zoos and aquariums like the Houston Zoo and the great people of Houston that are supporting the Houston Zoo, you were actually helping to save lemurs with Professor Jonah. Isn't that incredible? So that should make you feel really, really proud of visiting a good zoo and aquarium and allowing a percentage of your dollars that go

to those tickets to help fund conservation. You know, I love that. And what you're doing is you're trying to create these catalyst of changes on the ground with communities who face poverty. They face threats to their livelihood. And all of that's impacting the survivability chances for the lemurs. So I must tell you, I'm so proud of your work. But I'm going to pivot quickly because you are here in our beautiful farm. We're celebrating the Kiesling Prize, of which you're a finalist. What does it mean to be a Kiesling Prize finalist to you? Oh, I think the Kisling Prize will allow me to transform, for me to lead the fight against extinction.

I believe but with the Kislin Prize I can train the young generation to make the difference. This is incredible opportunity. So this is, I'm the finalist but this is a nation a winning. So I can speak on behalf of the Malagas

people. Yes. Thanks to the Kislin Prize. Your help. Because for us, it's for the humanity. Lemurs is not just a beautiful animal, beautiful creature. For me, it is a therapy. Yes. I believe on what we call limerone therapy. If I am stressed, if people are stressed, go and see the limers. Yes, yes, absolutely. And your stress is gone. So I believe, but with the Kisling Prize, we can maintain the world therapy and the limers. Thank you so much. Well, on behalf of Global Humane Society, which is the group that hosts the International Kiesling Prize for Species Conservation, we are honored that you are a finalist and that you're doing this very important work. And I also love the fact that you are inspiring the next generation of conservationists

to take on that heavy mantle of responsibility to protect the precious lemur. I also want to give a big shout out to the Houston Zoo. Thank you for what you do to support Professor Jonah's work. I'm so honored that you are here today. And congratulations on being a finalist for the 2025, keys and fries. You're all being to your family, to the Kisling family, because I don't find the word strong enough, good enough to thank you. But trust me, together, you'll definitely make the difference before it is too late. I kept always saying, before my eyes will close forever, I want to see the change.

I want to see the change and the change will happen. and we'll turn our vision into action and I believe on that we can do the difference all together I just want to repeat what he said before my eyes close forever I want to see the change

those are such inspirational words and they've touched my heart and I'm sure they've touched everyone listening today to Robbins Nest Professor Jonah continued to leave the good fight we're right here fighting with you Thank you so much for being in this episode of Robins Nest. Thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of Robbins Nest.

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