Threatened Lemurs in Madagascar
Threatened by deforestation, habitat loss and hunting, Madagascar's lemurs, a critically endangered species, are finding refuge in a private sanctuary on the vast Indian Ocean Island. There are around 100 known species on Madagascar, but only six are found in Nahampoana game reserve, among them are the iconic ring-tailed lemurs. There is a need for agricultural infrastructure put in place to allow the villagers to grow crops and reduce pressure on the forest. Conservation experts say there is a dire need for funding to ensure the survival of lemurs, with fewer than 10,000 left on the island. Estimates from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) suggest 94 percent of lemur species are threatened with extinction. Trade in lemurs is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) because the species are critically endangered.
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