One of the animals I was most excited at finding in Madagascar was the Montagne d'Ambre leaf chameleon (Brookesia tuberculate), one of the smallest reptiles in the world and found in the leaf litter of the Montagne d'Ambre National Park. It’s not quite world’s the smallest. This is the closely related Brookesia nana, found on a small island just off Madagascar’s coast. #madagascar #wildlife #macro #chameleon #reptiles #wildlifephotography #wildlifephoto #bbcwildlifepotd #nature #wildlifeseekers #weird #weirdwildlife (at Parc national de la Montagne d'Ambre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmTYhBhquB0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Just some of the weird and wonderful creatures of Amber Mountain, Madagascar. (at Parc national de la Montagne d'Ambre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmOBAz0K0Tm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Another of Madagascar’s very rare creatures, the Amber Mountain rock thrush (Monticola sharpei erythronotus) is only found on one mountain in Madagascar, with habitat loss becoming an increasing threat. #Madagascar #ecotourism #rarebirds #conservation (at Parc national de la Montagne d'Ambre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmBg0udKAE1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Black Lemur Camp is a fantastic example of ecotourism in action with nearly all the staff coming from the local village and most of the profits reinvested into community projects. The black lemurs in question are the incredibly rare Perrier’s sifaka (Propithecus perrieri), of which there are only around 250 left in the world: all in Madagascar’s fragile forests as they don’t survive captivity. Even during the two year lockdown the lemurs and their forest were protected by the villagers and they are now reaping the rewards with the return of tourism. Even though we had a lot of rain here, we did manage to glimpse a family of four or, to put it into context, 2% of the total global population. #Madagascar #ecotourism #conservation #lemurs #wildlife #nature #primates #mammals @mammal.watching (at Black lemur camp) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl-t-vgKJWc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

One of the creatures that was worryingly absent from Kirindy was the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae), the smallest lemur in the world and also the world’s smallest primate. Whether this disappearance is COVID related or more to do with climate change is unknown. We found this little charmer in a neighbouring reserve which gives hope that they could repopulate Kirindy again when conditions become more favourable #Madagascar #wildlife #conservation #lemur #mouselemur #primates #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeplanet #naturettl #featured_wildlife #bbcwildlifepotd @mammal.watching (at Kirindy Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1-A6iKPec/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Kirindy is legendary for its night walks and it didn’t disappoint with good sightings of gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius), red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus), pale fork-marked lemur (Phaner pallescens) and a tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus myoxinus) #Madagascar #wildlife #night #nightwalk #mammalwatching @mammal.watching (at Kirindy Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClzTkEHKGNd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Kirindy was the one place where we saw a noticeable impact from the pandemic. Without the income from tourism, the local villagers went back to their old practices of using the forest for fire wood, collecting honey etc. With the villagers, came dogs who chased away some of the most sought after species including the giant jumping rat and the magnificent fossa. Thankfully, the lemur population still remains very healthy including excellent sightings of Verreaux's sifaka, Red-fronted brown lemur and Red-tailed sportive lemur. As tourists return, we hope that the rarer species will do also. #Madagascar #wildlife #ecotourism #conservation #lemurs #wildlifephotography #nature #tourism (at Kirindy Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClvUZ95KELz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a stand of gigantic baobabs - mostly Grandidier’s baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) - some thought to be over 800 years old. #Madagascar #travel #baobabs (at Avenue of the Baobabs) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClspIlvqECi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Three species of lemur complete the day shift at Andasibe: the common brown lemur, lesser bamboo lemur and red bellied lemur. The park is also home to an impressive list of nocturnal lemurs including diminutive mouse lemurs and even the occasional aye aye #Madagascar #lemurs #Andasibe #wildlife #wildlifephotography #primates (at Andasibe Mantadia National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClminnvKR6a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Few animals look quite so at home in trees as lemurs do but diademed sifakas can also walk short distances on the ground: the classic ‘dancing lemurs’. However, the dense forest means that this is seldom seen in the wild. The dancing one was seen on the lemur island at Vakona Lodge #Madagascar #wildlife #lemurs #sifaka #wildlifephotography #wildlifeseekers (at Andasibe Mantadia National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CliWV08qBNn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Another of Andasibe’s big draws are the black-and-white ruffed lemurs. One of only two species of ruffed lemur, the other being the red ruffed #lemur #madagascar #blackandwhiteruffedlemur #ruffedlemur #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #primates #bbcwildlifepotd #wildlifeseekers #wildlifeofinstagram (at Andasibe Mantadia National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clb2yxBK5R2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Indri is one of the most sought-after residents of Andasibe. It is the largest lemur plus also the noisiest with a piercing song that can carry for over 4km. Apparently, it is one of only two species of animals that understands rhythm. The other is us humans (anyone who’s seen me on a dance floor might choose to disagree). #indri #madagascar #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #primates (at Andasibe Mantadia National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClY8pvcKsZM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Aye Aye is a nightmarish mix of so many different creatures: the ears of a bat, the eyes of a lemur, vampire-like teeth, a huge bushy tail and a skeletal middle finger with which it probes for grubs. It is feared by local villagers who kill them on site but they are actually a gentle and harmless species of primate (although it did take scientists a while to figure that one out). #ayeaye #madagascar #wildlife #wildlifephotography #freakish #nature #weird #weirdnature #nocturnal #night #wildlifeseakers (at Madagascar) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClV_4nTq7tF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

At nearly six foot, long the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the largest member of the weasel family. Hunting in packs along the rivers and lakes of South America, they are formidable predators and are known to take on black caiman and even jaguars when threatened #wildlife #otters #giantriverotter #nature #rivers #wildlifephotography #wildlifesafari #wildlifeseekers #naturephotography #southamerica #southamericawildlife (at Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgloULGqpOf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Like many of the great apes, chimpanzees make nests to sleep in.  These are made out of leaves and branches taken from nearby trees and they make a fresh nest every night.  Even the babies sleep in smaller versions of these. You could call these apricots!   Happy Ape-ril the first everyone! [and chimpanzees really do make nests]. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbzDcYPKUN6/?utm_medium=tumblr

Definitely one of those don’t judge a book by its covers days. Turned out to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met on my travels, the mug containing impossibly sweet tea and his teeth stained with betel nut (rather than the blood of his latest victim). Thankfully, cannibalism in PNG died-out in the 1960s in. Around about the time Mick Jagger was complaining about not getting any satisfaction. He should have had a friend over for dinner! #travel #tribes #adventure #cannibal #headhunter (at Papua New Guinea) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZNc23oqoq8/?utm_medium=tumblr

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hoping 2022 proves to be a brighter year for all those that long for travel. #lion #sunset #botswana #travel #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography #wildlifeseekers #bigcats #catsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/worldsafaris/p/CYLveVNK2Cx/?utm_medium=tumblr