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They don't live up here, but they must cross the peaks to find fruing trees in the forest pockets. Exposed to the tropical sun, it's devilishly hot. The group seeks shelter and a brief respit. The lemurs are vulnerable here and need to get a move on. There's still a way to go before they reach the forest. They get to what looks like the most daunting part of the journey, a 30 m drop where the limestone has fallen away to create sheer cliffs. But crowned lemurs are as good at rock climbing as they are at tree climbing.
Once down, they'll find shelter from the heat and plenty to eat, but they must be on their guard. There is one danger that every lemur on the island fears. A hunter that climbs as well as they can. The Fer. No big African predators made it to Madagascar. There are no lions, no leopards, no wild dogs. Instead, the island's top predator is a giant mongoose, and it eats lemurs. But it has more curious habits. It's the mating season and this female has stationed herself 15 m up a tree. She's chosen a branch that will just support her own weight plus that of a male.
A male approaches. If she approves of him, she'll allow him to mate. If she doesn't, she'll back away to a thinner branch and he won't be able to get to her. She's only fertile for a few days a year, so setting herself up in this tall tree is a good way of advertising her availability to suitors. And it seems to work. This is the sixth male she's entertained today.
