New Delhi: Every year, on the last Friday of October, World Lemur Day is celebrated this year on October 25. The day raises awareness about the need to protect Lemurs, an endangered species. It was first held in 2014 and was founded by Jonah Ratsimmbazafy in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Since then, the day has been observed by zoos and several animal rights organisations globally.
On World Lemur Day, let us examine why lemurs are endangered and why they are important to the ecosystem. Before we do so, let us review a brief history of lemurs.
About Lemurs
Lemurs are classified as prosimians, a subgroup of primates that evolved before monkeys and apes. They are characterised by their prominent ears, elongated snouts, and distinctive long tails.
It is believed that lemurs traversed to Madagascar from the African mainland approximately 60 million years ago. Lemurs represent the most diverse assemblage of primates globally.
They are recognised as the most endangered group of mammals worldwide.
Madagascar is susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, which has resulted in increased severe drought and food shortages in the southern regions and intensified flooding and erosion in the northern areas.
World Lemur Day 2024: Why are lemurs important to the ecosystem?
Wildlife is necessary for the ecosystem, and every animal is unique and helps the environment in some way. Lemurs are also unique animals, and they can be found only in Madagascar and the nearby Comoro Islands.
Lemurs are the largest mammals in Madagascar and play an important role in the ecosystem. According to a report in Mongabay, lemurs help in seed-dispersing. The biggest seed-dispersing lemurs, ruffed lemurs, are the only ones on the island to disperse big trees.
And if these ruffed lemurs vanish, so will the large trees that change the structure of the entire forest to small and fast-growing trees.
There are some other lemur species, like the black and white ruffed lemur, that help pollinate plants.
World Lemur Day 2024: Why are lemurs endangered?
Deforestation and hunting in Madagascar are the major reasons why lemurs are facing threats and are endangered. Climate change is also one of the reasons for the threat to lemurs.
Declining forests
From 1953 to 2014, there has been a loss of half of the forests for agriculture and fuelwood. In 2018, the islands lost around 2 per cent of the primary rainforests.
Hunting
Not only the lost forests area, but lemurs are declining because they are hunted for food, and hunting is considered taboo in some Madagascar areas.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Lists, there are around 31 per cent of the lemur species are critically endangered, which means they are on the verge of extinction. Some critically endangered species include
- Indris
- Black-and-white ruffed lemurs
- Sibree’s dwarf lemurs
- Blue-eyed black lemurs
- Mongoose lemurs
