RICHARD FREEMAN: LEMURS SLAUGHTERED

Conservation International says that endangered lemurs are being killed for bush meat on Madagascar. They have released pictures of crowned lemurs and golden-crowned sifaka that have been killed. The latter is one of the top 25 most endangered primates in the world. Most of its small population lives near the town of Daraina in the north of Madagascar.

Since violence erupted in January following disputed elections and a coup, lawlessness has meant an increase in the bush meat trade with lemur meat being sold to restaurants as a 'delicacy'.

Park rangers have left their posts after being threatened by gangs, and after most international aid has been suspended there is little money for conservation.

Dr Russ Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and an authority on lemurs, says the practice needs to be stamped out quickly: "The poaching of lemurs can increase the 'taste' for lemurs and result in an increase of the illegal hunting of this animal, especially if the market for them grows.

“More than anything else these poachers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg, 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."

Earlier this year, following looting and violence, Marojejy National Park was closed.
The park has now reopened but there are fears that locals who used to rely on income from visitors and international conservation may turn to logging and poaching.