Madagascar and international organizations have taken dedicated measures to enhance protection for the island nation's unique local wildlife in recent years, with a particular focus on its iconic lemurs.
Located in northwestern Madagascar, the Lokobe Nature Special Reserve is home to black lemurs, weasel lemurs and mouse lemurs.
The primates are regarded as the most threatened groups of mammals and are listed on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
That organization has predicted that over 98 percent of lemurs face extinction in the next 20 years due to deforestation and overhunting.
In recent years, some international organizations have actively worked with local authorities and introduced protection projects to make progress in protecting lemurs.
"This is a place where we protect lemurs because this is a natural reserve. So here we can explore different types of lemurs. There is a specific person who has to go to the forest, and they have to make sure that no one can hunt them," said a guide from the reserve.
To accommodate the growing number of visitors coming to Madagascar to see the country's iconic lemurs, the government has established a dedicated lemur park where tourists can observe and interact with the animals up close.
Lemurs are ambassadors of Madagascar's unique biodiversity, and effectively protecting these iconic animals can only be achieved through a multifaceted approach - safeguarding their natural habitats, curbing illegal hunting and trade, and advancing sustainable development across the island nation.
Madagascar enhances protection of endangered lemurs
Madagascar enhances protection of endangered lemurs
