Extinction is a threat to many animal species today. While human progress continues, animal species are being affected adversely as a result. One of those affected is ring-tailed lemurs who are in danger of extinction.
The ring-tailed lemur has a home in Madagascar. However, the lemur population there is declining. Numbers have fallen rapidly that has conservationists alarmed. Today there are less than 2,500 ring-tailed lemurs out in the wild.
Human progress and increase in population can be the cause of this decline. As human population increases, it is inevitable that people will start moving into animal habitats. Ring-tailed lemurs have declined in part because of a loss of habitat. Another reason is that they have been hunted both for meat and the illegal pets trade.
Professor Lisa Gould from the University of Victoria has led the study on ring-tailed lemur decline. In her study, she has noted that there are only three sites which have more than 200 lemurs. 12 sites have only 30 or less of them, and 15 sites have the lemurs either totally absent or are in danger of disappearing from the area.
University of Colorado Boulder Professor and co-author of the study Michelle Sauther has noted that lemurs are adaptable and can survive in harsh conditions. To have them close to extinction means that the situation is very grave, according to the University of Colorado Boulder's site. Other lemur species in Madagascar are also in danger.
The destruction of lemur habitats in Madagascar has been severe. Many of their habitats have been disturbed because of sapphire mining. This has encouraged many people to engage in it, which has resulted in the destruction of forest areas, as Science Daily reports. Sauther has warned that ring-tailed lemur population will eventually collapse as habitat loss continues.
As humans continue to make progress, people also continue to move into animal habitats. Many of these habitats are destroyed by various activities. Affected by this are ring-tailed lemurs that are in danger of extinction. Biodiversity in the past has been great, as shown by a new prehistoric bird that has been discovered.
