Galleries : Undying Tales 2019/2020 : UT 16 - Ring-tailed Lemur

 


ORIGINALS:

RING TAILED LEMUR - 6.5x6.5 inches $180.00 (SOLD)
Lemur - 3.5x4.5 inches $45.00 (SOLD)
Contact stephlaw@gmail.com if interested in purchasing.


Highlighted Species: Lemur catta

Status: Endangered due to habitat destruction and pet trade.

A Mahafaly man captured a tortoise one day, and brought it home to his two wives. As the first wife was preparing the tortoise for dinner, the second wife spied her. Jealousy flared in the second wife for her husband had not given the tortoise to her! She took a wooden spoon and began to beat the first wife. Under the beating, the first wife was transformed into a ring-tailed lemur. Angry at her aggressor, she snatched the spoon from the second wife and beat her back, and the second wife was transformed into a sifaka.

This story, telling of how these two primates were once humans and hence related to mankind, and the very human-like qualities of lemurs with their long fingers and expressive faces, is thought to be the reason why killing them is taboo and may bring bad luck to those who commit the crime.

More about this story at: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mahafaly-origin-myth-The-first-wife-now-in-the-form-of-a-ring-tailed-lemur-grappled_fig11_242198127

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Size: 6 x 6 inches
Medium: Ink
©2020, Stephanie Law


Detail closeups: