Dr. Brigitte Raharivololona | Biodiversity Conservation | Best Researcher Award
Researcher | University of Antananarivo | Madagascar
Dr. Brigitte Raharivololona is a dedicated lecturer and researcher whose academic journey spans natural sciences, anthropology, evolutionary biology, and paleontology, with formative training at the University of Antananarivo and the University of Hamburg. Her expertise lies in biological anthropology, primatology, and conservation, with a strong focus on lemur ecology, parasitology, and biodiversity management. Over her career, she has held leadership roles within the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Antananarivo, including Head of the Department of Anthropobiology and Sustainable Development and coordinator of programs in biological anthropology and evolution. Deeply committed to advancing primate conservation in Madagascar, she serves as Vice President of GERP, leading national initiatives such as the World Lemur Festival, National Lemur Day events, and biodiversity awareness programs. Internationally, she contributes through collaborations with organizations, review panels, and conservation networks, mentoring students, supervising advanced research, and serving on academic juries. Her extensive experience includes organizing scientific sessions at international congresses, coordinating field schools, leading reforestation and conservation education projects, and contributing to research assessments on lemur conservation. With numerous publications, grants, and scientific contributions, she has 14 documents, 264 citations, and an h-index of 8, reflecting her significant impact. Dr. Brigitte Raharivololona stands out as a passionate educator, researcher, and advocate for conservation, bridging academic excellence with applied environmental action while nurturing future generations of scientists and safeguarding Madagascar’s unique biodiversity.
Featured Publications
Vololonirina, F. F., Raharivololona, B. M., Andrianarimisa, A., Randrianasolo, A., Rakotoarivony, F., Bonadonna, G., Wroblewski, E. E., & Milich, K. M. (2025). Habituation of wild black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Vohibe Forest, Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology. Advance online publication.
Bonadonna, G., Ramilijaona, O. M., Raharivololona, B. M., Andrianarimisa, A., Razafindraibe, H., Freeman, K., Rasambainarivo, F., Wroblewski, E. E., & Milich, K. M. (2024). Response of diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) to fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) predation in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Ecology and Evolution. Advance online publication.
Marciniak, S., Mughal, M. R., Godfrey, L. R., Bankoff, R. J., Randrianatoandro, H., Crowley, B. E., Bergey, C. M., Muldoon, K. M., Randrianasy, J., Raharivololona, B. M., et al. (2021). Evolutionary and phylogenetic insights from a nuclear genome sequence of the extinct, giant, “subfossil” koala lemur Megaladapis edwardsi. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(26), e2022117118.
Randimbiharinirina, R. D., Richter, T., Raharivololona, B. M., Ratsimbazafy, J. H., & Schüßler, D. (2021). To tell a different story: Unexpected diversity in local attitudes towards Endangered aye‐ayes Daubentonia madagascariensis offers new opportunities for conservation. People and Nature, 3(2), 280–293.
Sefczek, T. M., Randimbiharinirina, D. R., Raharivololona, B. M., Razafimahaleo, H., Randrianarison, O., & Louis, E. E. (2020). Re‐assessing the applicability of the Jarman/Bell model and Kay’s threshold to the insectivorous aye‐aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 171(2), 315–324.