In the fight for conservation Madagascar is without a doubt on the front lines. Not only are most of its forests already destroyed—with a mere 10% of intact forest remaining at best—but theres still much to lose in what remains. Madagascar is listed as having the third highest primate diversity in the world, with all primate species being lemurs. Lemurs are basal primates, representing rare traits similar to those of ancestral primates; they are a rare glimpse into the genetic past of primates. As such, theyre even a glimpse into the deep past of distant human ancestors. Lemurs are only found in Madagascar and on nearby islands and, according to scientists, 90 percent of all lemur species face extinction within the next 20 to 25 years.
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 14:14:09 +0000