Light-footed lemurs dance in the sands of Madagascar

Striking-looking white sifaka live in groups of five at the private Berenty Reserve in southern Madagascar
The tree-top dwellers prefer to remain high above ground, but appear to 'dance' when moving to other areas
Since becoming a tourist destination in the 1980s, Berenty has attracted film crews and photographers

These nimble lemurs aren't hopping mad – they're just in the mood for dancing at a private wildlife reserve in southern Madagascar.

The striking-looking Verreaux’s sifaka, also known as white sifaka because of their thick, mostly white silky fur, were captured in a series of stunning photos taken at the Berenty Reserve.

The site, founded in 1936 by Henry and Alain de Heaulme on land beside the Mandrare River, is considered one of the best locations to see confident ringtail and sifaka lemurs at close range.

Since becoming a tourist destination during the 1980s, it has attracted photographers and television crews, including those filming for various BBC wildlife series presented by David Attenborough.

The tree-dwelling lemurs of the Madagascan forests live and forage for food in small groups of five, eating almost any plant parts that are above ground.

Although they are adapted for a life spent in spiny trees, the white sifaka cross open ground occasionally, achieving this while being upright on their hind legs with their forearms held up high for balance, as they attempt to avoid predators.

The name sifaka comes from the noisy barking call they make during territorial confrontations.

Dale Morris photographed the light-footed lemurs, including one which happily stretched, hopped, skipped and jumped for his camera, while recently visiting Berenty.

Who needs music? A dancing lemur struts his stuff on the sandy dance floor at the Berenty Reserve in Madagascar.

Leap of faith: Although the Verreaux's sifakas are tree-dwelling lemurs, they love to hop and dance when on the ground.

Spring in their step: The beautiful white sifakas are not anatomically designed to walk on the ground, as they normally live high up, in tree tops in Madagascar.

The 45-year-old said: 'Sifakas are not anatomically built to walk upon the ground. They are designed by nature to live in the trees.

'They get around by jumping from one tree to the next, rather like a spring loaded grasshopper.

'When they come to the ground, rather than walking on all fours – which is impossible for them – they bounce and leap.

'This has lead to their nickname The Dancing Sifakas.'

Living throughout the forests of Madagascar and unique to the island, they are highly social, but are threatened by increased human encroachment into their feeding grounds.