Madagascar is facing an extinction crisis, with a rising number of unique species facing extinction due to human activities such as deforestation and poaching, according to a new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The island nation, located off the coast of Africa, is known for its unique biodiversity, including lemurs, baobab trees and fossa, a large predator related to the mongoose.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. Picture: Getaway gallery
However, the WCS warns that rapid development and population growth are threatening the survival of these and other species.
‘Madagascar has lost over 80% of its original forest cover, and the remaining forests are highly fragmented and degraded,’ said Jonah Ratsimbazafy, co-author of the report and a primate specialist at the WCS. ‘This has led to a dramatic decline in the populations of many lemur species and other endemic wildlife.’
The report estimates that more than 90% of Madagascar’s lemurs – primates found only on the island – are now considered to be at risk of extinction. The situation is equally dire for the island’s reptiles, with more than 80% of species at risk, and for amphibians, with nearly 70% at risk.
“Madagascar is a global conservation priority, and these alarming new figures highlight the urgent need for increased efforts to protect its unique wildlife,” said Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Chief Conservation Officer at Bristol Zoological Society.
Madagascar’s government has been criticized for not doing enough to protect its biodiversity. WCS and other conservation groups are calling for increased efforts to combat illegal logging and hunting, as well as increased support for local communities to find sustainable livelihoods that do not depend on the destruction of natural resources.
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