A Special Tribute to a Fallen Conservation Hero

By AdminAfrica, Camera Traps, Capacity Building, Carnivores, Community empowerment, Conservation, Diets, Education, Folivory, GEM, Indri, Italy, Leadership, Lemurs, LIFE, Little Green Guards®, Madagascar, Mammals, Maromizaha, Partnerships, Plants, Primates, Research, Training in Primatology Series, Varecia
Dr. Rose Marie Randrianarison aka Sissie (© LVDI International)

Dr. Rose Marie Randrianarison was an exceptional individual who seamlessly bridged the worlds of rigorous scientific endeavor and urgent community needs. Known affectionately by her close friends and colleagues as “Sissie,” her scientific curiosity was surpassed only by her incredibly generous nature. Her mentorship affected people deeply, with her positive impact on women being particularly notable. Sissie opened doors for many, always extending her hand to lift others up.

It was a privilege for us at LVDI International to have Dr. Randrianarison serve as our Country Coordinator in Madagascar. Throughout her tenure (2015-2024), she oversaw and executed numerous successful projects for us and our partners, most notably the University of Torino and Groupe d’Étude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), where she was a founding member.

Sissie was also instrumental in developing our Little Green Guards® program in Madagascar and helping produce meaningful conservation curricula for rural schoolchildren living near the Maromizaha Protected Area. Our first Madagascar is My Home Too coloring book was championed directly by her. It is with great pride that we dedicate our most recent advanced edition — designed for CM-level (fourth-grade) students — to her lasting memory.

Although her shoes will be incredibly difficult to fill, her legacy will forever be embedded in the hearts and minds of those she touched. This is especially true for the children in Anevoka, a community that truly meant the world to Sissie.