Lemurs slaughtered in Madagascar
20th August 2009
Endangered lemurs in Madagascar are being killed for bush meat, according to a conservation group.
Conservation International has released shocking pictures of slaughtered crowned lemurs and golden crowned sifaka.
The sifaka is listed as one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world. Much of its small population lives in the town of Daraina in the north of Madagascar.
The bush meat is being sold to local restaurant owners keen to offer local ‘delicacies’ on their menus.
Since violence erupted in January following disputed election results and a subsequent bloodless coup, lawlessness has increased, with illegal poaching and logging thriving.
Guards and rangers have left their posts following threats from gangs. Many countries have suspended international aid following the disputed change in government, leading to a funding shortfall 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."
Dr Mittermeier has urged international governments to resume conservation aid.
Hilary Bradt, founder of the Bradt guidebook series and a regular visitor to Madagascar, told us: "I believe that the cause and cure for this resumation of killing lemurs for food is tourism: lack of tourists was the main cause and more tourists would be part of the cure.
"A year ago enough tourists were visiting the little reserve of Daraina, where the photos of slaughtered lemurs were taken, to ensure that the local people had first-hand experience of the benefit of live lemurs. Sadly, it was probably the fact that these golden-crowned sifakas had lost their fear of man that made them so easy to kill.
"Ecotourism puts money into the pockets of villagers living adjacent to the reserves, and also provides and informal policing of the forest, so if you want to help Madagascar and its lemurs, plan your trip there as soon as possible.
"I am sceptical of the effectiveness of political lobbying, particularly in Britain. The government is simply not interested in Madagascar which is neither a former British colony nor wealthy enough to interest politicians.
"However, there is light at the end of the political tunnel. Earlier this month the president and former presidents of Madagascar reached a power-sharing agreement which will lead to elections within 15 months. So perhaps aid can now be resumed because it is no longer seen to be propping up an illegal regime."
Marojejy National Park was closed earlier this year following looting and violence. This led to fears for the future of the endangered silky sifaka which lives in the park.
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.
Madagascar has currently stopped charging for tourist entry visas in a bid to attract more visitors following this year’s turbulence.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises British travellers to travel with “established organisations or travel firms who have the capacity to monitor the local media and warn of possible trouble”.
It advises independent travellers to “monitor the local media closely and keep abreast of the situation for the duration of your visit”.