21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Dancing In The Light

This was taken in Berenty National Reserve. It’s one the few places where this particular species of Sifaka has learned to "dance" to get from place to place. Sifaka's are related to lemurs, but are perfectly adapted to life in the trees, rarely coming to the ground. They are so well adapted for tree life they have not adapted to be able to walk. In Berenty the loss of trees has forced this particular population to travel on the ground to get from one grove of trees to another. So, to do that they have become famously known as "dancing" sifakas as they hop from one place to another.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Berenty, Madagascar
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © LEIGHTON LUM