Slaughter of Lemurs Rises After Madagascar Coup

Taking advantage of political turmoil in the island nation of Madagascar, hunters are slaughtering endangered lemurs at an unprecedented rate. An investigation by Conservation International reveals a growing market for lemur meat since the March overthrow of President Marc Ravalomanana. Madagascar’s forest reserves have recently been invaded by illegal loggers and by poachers targeting lemurs, primarily for the restaurant trade. As enforcement has declined, poachers have targeted crowned lemurs and the golden crowned sifaka in conservation areas in the island nation’s northern forests, according to Conservation International and the Web site, Mongabay. Russ Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and a lemur expert, said the continuing decimation of lemurs is a major blow not only to the island’s biodiversity, but also to its ecotourism business. “These poachers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg,” Mittermeier said, “wiping out the very animals that people most want to see, and undercutting the country and especially local communities by robbing them of future ecotourism revenue.”