Madagascar's lemurs are in danger

According to the latest IUCN report, 31% Madagascar's lemur species are now critically endangered. A rate 33 lemur species if we refer to the red list.

Red List of Threatened Species Increases

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) made an update to its red list of threatened species. And the results are chilling.

As of the 9 last July, IUCN said in a statement that "On the 120.372 assessed species worldwide, 32.441 threatened with extinction, including the lemurs of Madagascar".

According to the update, nearly a third of all species are now critically endangered. A rate 33 lemur species if we always refer to the red list. And 98% of these lemurs, either 103 species on the 107 survivors are 'threatened with extinction'.

This IUCN communiqué took the example of Ms. Berth's Glass Sifaka and Mouse Lemur, the world's smallest primate as threatened with extinction.

On the other hand, they ranked 13 other lemur species of the Big Island in "higher threat categories due to increased anthropogenic pressures".

They put forward various factors to explain the substantial decline of these endemic species of the country. Among others, deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, logging resources for charcoal production and hunting in Madagascar. (Source : MidiMadagasikara_11/07/20)

Lemurs, unique species, endemic to Madagascar

Madagascar is one of the hot-spots countries of the planet's biodiversity. Land of endemicity, the country has a wide variety of habitats, where near-the-next 25 000 unique species. What makes it a real living laboratory.

Some of these animals fascinate great researchers around the world, precisely because they can only be found in Madagascar. And this is of course the case of lemurs.

Considered the ancestor of monkeys, they can be seen in their natural habitats only in Madagascar. They are very intelligent animals, including some species such as Sifaka, are very comfortable with the man. It is not uncommon for a lemur to come to your shoulders during your outings in the forest !

Nature has not finished surprising us !

Today, there are more than 100 species of lemurs. Each of them is visible in Madagascar, whether in one of the many national parks like Ankarafantsika Park, in Zoo, or in the wild.

Dwarf lemur of Ankara

The places where they can be observed are innumerable. On the other hand, still today, new species such as the dwarf lemur of Ankara are discovered.

Indeed, scientists discover new species endemic to Madagascar every year. After the “Gecko stip-teaser”, the “Ghost snake”, and many others, we discovered the “Ankaran dwarf lemur” or “Cheirogaleus stethi” a few years ago.

An Ankaran hand lemur weighs 100 grams and barely measures 16 centimeters without its tail. Its species was first observed in 2014 north of Madagascar.

But at the rate of deforestation and climate change, these lemurs are really at risk of disappearing.

Let's adopt eco-attitude and save these lemurs and our environment

Lemurs are volunteer forest gardeners. By ingesting seeds, they contribute through their excrement to the dispersal of seeds and their germination, increasing the ability of trees to regenerate. Huge and free reforestation aid.

Yet, Madagascar's lemurs are in danger. So we all need to behave ecologically. The efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, NGOs and environmental conservation associations need to be encouraged and strengthened. And ecotourism must be promoted.

Let's keep our island's biodiversity together, …. for the survival of our planet !

Read also : Aye-aye : Madagascar's rarest lemur

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