Wildlife
Indris are endangered, tree-dwelling lemurs native to Madagascar. They're known locally as babakotos, which means 'man of the forest' or 'little father' and unlike other lemurs, only have a short stumpy tail. The largest of the living lemurs can climb trees with ease, using their powerful legs to jump through the canopy in leaps of over 10 metres. Indris produce loud territorial calls that can be heard from over 1km away.
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Wall of sound
Indris turn back intruders with a chorus of cries.
Indris turn back intruders with a chorus of cries.
Indri encounter
A former hunter allows David Attenborough to get close to the once elusive indri.
A former hunter allows David Attenborough to get close to the once elusive indri.
Eerie echoes
Indris respond to a recording of their calls.
On hearing a recording of indri calls, the local indris respond with alarm. David Attenborough can see them and tries to get closer. The indris are high in the trees, watching him. They are big animals, about three feet tall and they're clearly fascinated by sounds they're hearing.
Indri family
Some indris are skittish, others more relaxed.
David Attenborough gets to know an indri family with four individuals. They spend most of their days grooming each other, but the youngsters get disturbed when nearby birds come for a closer look. This clip was first broadcast in 1961.
Forest voices
The indris of Madagascar use calls to keep rivals out of their patch.
The indris of Madagascar use calls to keep rivals out of their patch.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Indri can be found in a number of locations including: Madagascar. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Indri distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
RainforestDiscover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Endangered
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The indri (i/ˈɪndri/; Indri indri), also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs. It is a diurnal tree-dweller related to the sifakas and, like all lemuroids, it is native to Madagascar.
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Helpless young
Tree dweller
Hierarchical
Herbivorous
Adapted to jumping
Monogamous
Social
Seed dispersal
Chemical communication
Territorial
Viviparous