Lemurs, native to only Madagascar, are nearing extinction. They come in various colors, have long snouts, and some have ringed tails. It is their large eyes, however, that are most memorable. They are also Madagascar’s most iconic brand, and a basis for a large ecotourism industry.

Lemurs, native to only Madagascar, are nearing extinction. They come in various colors, have long snouts, and some have ringed tails. It is their large eyes, however, that are most memorable. They are also Madagascar’s most iconic brand, and a basis for a large ecotourism industry.

According to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), Lemurs are expected by become up to 95% extinct in the next 20 to 25 years. There are 111 known species and subspecies, and 105 are thought to be critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Slash and burn agriculture, illegal logging, mining, charcoal production, and what is considered to be an unsustainable level of poaching, are to blame.

Christoph Schwitzer, of the Bristol Zoological Society, is involved in implementing the Lemur Action Plan, and considers the statistics concerning lemurs “very alarming.”

Sources

Lemur extinction: Vast majority of species under threat. (2018, August 2). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45035560

95% of World’s Lemur Population on Edge of Extinction. (2018, August 3). Ecowatch. https://www.ecowatch.com/are-lemurs-endangered-2592379111.html

Lemur. (2019, July 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemur