This leaping lemur, diademed sifaka, is endemic to specific regions of eastern Madagascar. Photo by Martin Cooper

PEEC News:

Local photographer Martin Cooper will share photos from his three-week visit to Madagascar, which covered four ecosystems and gave him the chance to capture images of wildlife including lemurs, chameleons, and endemic birds that are unique to the island. This free talk, organized by Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), is 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 at the Los Alamos Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road.

Madagascar has been biologically isolated from Africa and India for 88 million years, allowing plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Unfortunately, Madagascar has the distinction of being the world’s seventh poorest country. Some glimpses of Malagasy culture will highlight how their desperate poverty threatens this biological treasure.

Cooper and his wife Bev have enjoyed living in the Los Alamos area for nearly 40 years, and now retired, travel often to experience and photograph the wildlife of exotic places. Bob and Laurie Walker also are longtime residents of Los Alamos, and share a passion for travel and photography. This program is a joint meeting with the Los Alamos Photography Club.

This talk is free to attend, and no registration is required. For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460.

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.