Lemurs, the primates with big eyes that live in Madagascar, risk extinction. The warning comes from an international group of environmentalists who studied the conditions of the 111 species of lemurs that populate the island. They found that 95 percent of them are in danger, with a serious increase from 2012.
The Commission for the survival of the lemurs of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) met in Madagascar in May. Over 50 experts from all over the world was there.
Lemurs are threatened by the destruction of tropical forest habitats, the illegal cutting of trees, coal mining activities and the agriculture which burns forests to find new lands. Even hunting and capture, to make them pets, are now a serious threat, environmentalists said.
According to Global Wildlife Conservation, the extinction of the lemurs would destroy the whole biodiversity of Madagascar. Indeed, lemurs guarantee the health of the forests, spreading the seeds throughout the island. They are also the symbol of the country: their disappearance would have a negative impact on the island’s economy, which each year is crowded by tourists who travel there to see the lemurs.
In order to save them, the IUCN has already developed a conservation plan, that includes the protection of habitats and the promotion of new ecotourism strategies, to support the local population and reduce hunting.
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