Lemurs eat a wide range of fruits, plant, insects, and, yes, aloe. While we haven’t conducted any scientific studies, we’re pretty certain that they also enjoy the health benefits of Aloe macroclada. Everyone knows about the adorable lemurs only found on the Red Island, Madagascar. There are also the less-adorable lemurs, like the aye aye, and many varieties in between.
Madagascar is known for its unique flora and fauna. The Rosy Periwinkle flowers found in gardens around the world, and important source of anti-cancer medicines, originated in Madagascar. From baobabs to chameleons to rosewood, lots of unique species can be found in the many different environments on this big red island. Aloe macroclada is one of these unique and special species.
Like lemurs, Aloe macroclada (vahona in Malagasy) is threatened in the wild. Its habitats are disappearing. Our experiences growing vahona tell us young plants cannot handle direct sunlight for the first year or more. They rely on shade until mature and are often found on the edges of forests as well as in and around tall grasses and shrubs. Centuries of (colonial) deforestation followed by massive amounts of charcoal production plus the use of slash-and-burn agriculture has sadly reduced the natural habitat of lemurs, as well as vahona, and adversely affected the number of wild vahona plants.
As a business working with vahona, we make great efforts and take great pride in planting trees of many varieties, as well as many vahona plants, while spreading the message to stop burning. Our efforts are having positive effects in small and humble ways. We hope our efforts and messages spread over time with more an more people being aware of what is being lost and what they should be doing to save it.
I hope to some day to see a lemur sitting in a tree we planted eating vahona.
