Home / Environment / Lemur Extinction Looms: Black Market Meat Trade Threatens Survival
Lemur Extinction Looms: Black Market Meat Trade Threatens Survival
2 Dec
Summary
- Illegal black market traders target lemurs in Madagascar for their meat.
- Approximately 13,000 lemurs are sold annually for food despite legal bans.
- Deforestation previously threatened lemurs, with illegal trade now a new danger.
Beloved zoo inhabitants, lemurs are now facing a severe extinction crisis driven by an emerging illegal black market trade. In their native Madagascar, these wet-nosed primates are being sought after for their meat, believed by some to have rejuvenating properties. This clandestine trade poses a significant new danger to a species already critically endangered.
Research published recently reveals the alarming scale of this illicit activity, with an estimated 13,000 lemurs trafficked annually for food. This practice is strictly prohibited under both Madagascan and international laws, yet it continues to threaten the survival of lemur populations. The trade is particularly concerning given the already vulnerable status of many lemur species.
While deforestation has long been identified as a primary driver of lemur endangerment, the burgeoning black market for their meat introduces a fresh and urgent crisis. Conservation efforts are now grappling with this dual threat, striving to protect these iconic animals from illegal exploitation and ensure their long-term survival in the wild.
