The largest living lemur
The indri is a black-and-white lemur with a very short tail, long legs and rounded ears. It clings upright to tree trunks and makes huge leaps between them.
A family chorus
Indri family groups sing together in a wailing chorus that can be heard for around two kilometres. Songs mark territory and help groups avoid each other, and each song has a distinct structure. Their song is one of the most recognisable sounds of Madagascar’s forests.
Critically endangered
Indris depend on large patches of intact forest and cannot survive in captivity. Slash-and-burn farming and illegal logging have caused rapid decline, so protecting the remaining forest is vital.
Listen
What it sounds like: Haunting, wailing family songs that carry up to about two kilometres.
To hear independent recordings, try Freesound. Check each recording’s licence before reusing it. See Media & Sources.
Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.