Lemurs in the Limelight

Each October, the World Lemur Festival helps raise awareness of lemurs and the ongoing effort to conserve these imperiled primates and their habitats together with local communities.

Inspired by children's drawings, CPALI's sister artisans in northeastern Madagascar have designed a line of lemur-themed textiles that celebrate many iconic species. Certified Wildlife Friendly and Fair Trade, every lemur made by local artisans for the collaborative social enterprise, Tanana Madagascar, supports livelihoods and helps farmers plant native trees on the margins of protected forest areas. There are so many to love! Which species is your favorite?

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

IUCN Red List Assessment: ENDANGERED

The endangered ring-tailed lemur is one of Madagascar's most recognized species. Ring-tailed lemurs are known for their female-dominant social hierarchy, their affinity for sunbathing, and their social grooming. Depicted here in a mosaic of ethically produced silk cocoons, this ring-tail's yellow background is colored using natural dye from jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). The textiles are sewn by artisans in northeastern Madagascar to support fair employment through the arts. Each piece also helps return native trees to degraded landscapes, including plant species valued by mouse lemurs and other biodiversity. This World Lemur Day, Tanana Madagascar handcrafted lemurs are available for purchase. 100% of proceeds go to locally-run initiatives in the northeastern rainforest.

Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)

IUCN Red List Assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

The critically endangered Coquerel's sifaka is native to northwestern Madagascar. Coquerel's sifakas inspire awe for their amazing ability to hop upright, both in trees and on the ground. This ornament honoring them is made using a combination of wild silk from the endemic Madagascar bagworm moth (Deborrea malgassa) collected by farmers in the island's northeast, and cultivated mulberry silk raised by farmers on the central plateau. Lemur lovers can purchase the ornament here.

Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)

IUCN Red List Assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Known for its loud vocalizations, the critically endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur is native to eastern Madagascar. This lemur is made by artisans in northeastern Madagascar from ethically sourced mulberry silk cocoons that are iron-pressed and sewn together. Lemur lovers can purchase the ornament here.

Aye aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

IUCN Red List Assessment: ENDANGERED

Nocturnal and solitary, the endangered aye aye is taboo in Malagasy folklore. This bewitching ornament is made by local artisans from dyed and iron-pressed cocoons that are sewn together. When the power cuts, as often happens, solar panels run sewing machines in the SEPALI Madagascar artisans workshop. Lemur lovers can purchase the ornament here.

Silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus)

IUCN Red List Assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

The critically endangered silky sifaka is native to a limited habitat in northeastern Madagascar. This ornament honoring "silkies" features wild silk from the endemic Madagascar bagworm moth (Deborrea malgassa) collected by farmers in northeastern Madagascar near the southernmost extent of the silkies' range. Since none of the endemic wild silks in CPALI's program are white, ethically raised mulberry silk cocoons are also used. Lemur lovers can purchase the ornament here.

MacArthur's mouse lemur (Microcebus macarthurii)

IUCN Red List Assessment: ENDANGERED

The endangered MacArthur's mouse lemur is a species of mouse lemur known only from the Makira Natural Park region in northeastern Madagascar. Mouse lemurs are one of the world's smallest primates and are found in most of Madagascar's forests, where they feed on insects, fruit, and plant sap. The rare MacArthur's mouse lemur was first discovered in 2008 in a protected forest area near where the SEPALI Madagascar team is based. Lemur lovers can purchase the ornament here.

Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz)

IUCN Red List Assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

The critically endangered mongoose lemur is native to western Madagascar. Mongoose lemurs generally live in family groups and feed on fruit, leaves, flowers, and nectar. The raffia elements in this lemur, and all Tanana Madagascar ornaments, are sourced from local farmers in northeastern Madagascar and also planted under CPALI's collaborative agroforestry initiative. Lemur lovers can purchase this ornament here.

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Behind the materials

CPALI supports locally led efforts in Madagascar that use natural materials to benefit people and nature. The silk and raffia behind these lemur textiles have beautiful stories of their own.

Raffia sourced from local farmers: Raffia fibers for textile production are directly sourced from Betsimisaraka farmers on the margins of protected forest areas in the MaMaBaie land and sea scape. In 2025, 60 farmer leaders grew 40,000 seedlings in 4 local tree nurseries. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

Seven species of silk: CPALI and SEPALI Madagascar produce textiles using seven kinds of silk sourced from trained Malagasy farmers. Many lemur ornaments feature two silks: brown native silk from the endemic Madagascar bagworm moth (Deborrea malgassa) collected in northeastern Madagascar without harming the moth, and domesticated mulberry silk (Bombyx mori) sourced from central plateau farmers using ethical methods. Wild native Deborrea is the fourth cocoon from the bottom in the picture above, and domesticated mulberry silk is the first cocoon from the bottom. Farmers grow native host plants for Deborrea and other pictured wild silks in a locally run agroforestry initiative. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

Increasing wild silk production, one tree at a time: To scale the availability of sustainably harvested endemic silk, farmers and artisans in northeastern Madagascar are collaborating to plant native host trees in local agroforestry systems. With the right support, CPALI hopes to grow this initiative together with local partners. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

Inspired by nature: In addition to fabulous lemurs, skilled artisans at the SEPALI Madagascar workshop collage a range of endemic and imagined species--from birds, to moths, to butterflies. Many are inspired by children's drawings.

75 artisans with one goal: SEPALI Madagascar runs an artisans workshop in northeastern Madagascar that employs a full-time team of 20 to produce nature-based textiles, from tapestries to lemur ornaments. The enterprise is designed to generate sustainable income. In 2025, a circle of 60 additional village-based artisans were trained and began contributing to the production process. The natural materials are connected to fair markets by CPALI under our non-profit's social enterprise, Tanana Madagascar. (Photo: Matthew Scott)

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