10 quick facts about rare animal Indri Babakoto

Indri Babakoto is one of the largest living lemurs. Indri maintains an upright posture when climbing or clinging to things and mainly feeds on fruits, flowers, leaves, and seeds. It has a white and black coat and a body length of about 64 to 72 cm. 

Apart from humans, it is the only mammal that can communicate using rhythm. Other animals roar, sing, and use various vocalisations to converse.

Babakoto is native to Madagascar and highly revered by the people because of how it is linked to different myths that also account for its origin. But it is an endangered animal because it is hunted despite this act being a taboo, including destroying its habitat by burning, fueling, and gathering wood.

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Below are interesting facts about this animal:

1. They are monogamous, one male to one female in mating. They give birth between 2 and 3 years, and the gestation period lasts 4 to 5 months. 
2. At the early stage of their lives, infants ride on the back of their mothers, cling to their bellies, and wean for six months. By the eighth month, infants are free but still stay around or live with their mothers until they are 2 to 3 years old. By the age of 7 to 9, they can reproduce their own offspring.
3. They are very social, moving around in groups that comprise both young and older ones but mostly females. They can travel many miles, jump, and move between trees vertically.
4. Indri Babakoto spend their active time during the day feeding, which depends on the duration of daylight.
5. The males protect their territory or home from invaders by urinating and defecating.
6. Due to different threats, they live in isolated areas, but these environments are not favourable for producing offspring or mating. 
7. Indri Babakoto has a laryngeal air sac that enables them to sing, which can last for 3 minutes and be heard by humans at a far distance, like 2 km.
8. They have opposite toes that allow them to grab trees and hang upside down.
9. Their strong sense of smell helps them detect urine markings and avoid altercations with other animals and their territories.
10. According to Malagasy legends, they are believed to be the fathers of mankind. The word “Indri” means “there it is.” The word came about due to a misunderstanding between the people and the person who discovered the animal.