Social transmission of predation risk across wild groups of Verreaux’s sifaka

We study the spread of information about predation risk in a wild animal system by integrating several cutting-edge remote technologies with advanced computational modelling. Using a paired grid of passive acoustic recorders and camera traps, in combination with GPS-IMU biologging collars, we track the movement and anti-predator behaviour of Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) while simultaneously monitoring its primary predator, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar. Verreaux’s sifaka live in highly dynamic societies, in which predation by fosa is the main cause of death for both individuals and groups. Sifaka communicate this predation risk with multiple types of predator alarm calls, and sifaka respond to both conspecific and hetero-specific alarms (red-fronted lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs), often by vocalizing themselves.