One of the rarest and most enchanting primates in the world—a lemur that lives only in a tiny patch of northeastern Madagascar. Known locally as the “simpona,” this critically endangered species is revered by many Malagasy people as a sacred animal, a spirit of the forest. What makes the silky sifaka unforgettable is its dazzling, ghost-like appearance: its fur is long, silky, and pure white or cream, sometimes with silver or golden tinges that glisten in the dappled rainforest light. Among Madagascar’s already spectacular lemurs, this one feels almost otherworldly.

Their expressive faces are bare and black, with amber or sometimes pale blue eyes—one of the only sifaka species where blue eyes are occasionally seen. They move through the rainforest canopy with extraordinary grace, leaping up to 10 meters (33 feet) between trees, their arms outstretched like gymnasts mid-flight. On the ground, they employ the sifaka family’s signature “dancing walk,” hopping sideways with arms held high for balance, a comical yet elegant adaptation for bipedal movement.

Socially, silky sifakas live in small family groups of two to nine individuals, usually centered around a dominant female, as is common among lemurs. Their diet consists mainly of leaves, seeds, fruit, and flowers, making them important seed dispersers in their ecosystem. Because they inhabit the dense, humid rainforests of Madagascar’s Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud National Parks, they are less accustomed to human presence than some other lemurs, which makes sightings both rare and magical for those fortunate enough to encounter them.

Sadly, the silky sifaka is listed as Critically Endangered, with only a few hundred individuals estimated to remain in the wild. Their survival is threatened by deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, and hunting. Despite traditional fady (taboos) that protect them in some regions, these taboos do not cover all communities, and pressures on their shrinking forest habitat are intense.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Madagascar

100-1,000

Official estimate

CR

2019