The Red Ruffed Lemur
Economic Endangerment Aspects
The lemur species is the most endangered vertebrate on Earth, beating all other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish (Duke Lemur Center, 2014).
91% of the 103 known lemur species are threatened or endangered 23 of the species are now considered "critically endangered," 52 are "endangered," and 19 are "vulnerable" on the IUCN's Red List (Reuter, 2015).
This is compared to 10 percent, 21 percent and 17 percent, respectively, at the time of the previous assessment carried out in 2005 (Reuter, 2015). The principal threats to the survival of wild populations of Red Ruffed Lemur are habitat loss and hunting. Due to their large size and evident need for tall primary forest, these animals are particularly susceptible to human encroachment and, sadly, hunting and trapping for food still takes place.
Furthermore, because remaining populations are concentrated on the Masoala Peninsula, they may be threatened by the frequent cyclones (hurricanes) that hit this part of Madagascar. The range of this species has also recently been heavily impacted on by the very rapid upsurge of illegal logging after the political events of early 2009, in addition to fires.
It would not take much to ensure the protection of the Red Ruffed Lemur. In fact there are already multiple laws in effect that are supposed to. Nonprofit organizations like Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) and The Lemur Conservation Network (LCN) help enforce laws such as the Eulemur Species Survival Plan (SSP), The Ruffed Lemur SSP, and Anjana Haribe-Sud Special Reserve (ASSR).
Economic Cost of Preservation
These laws, implemented by the government agencies GERP (Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les primates) and (ENS) École Normale Supérieure (Primarily teaching branch), provide economic stability, as well as conservation for endemic endangered species. The laws reduced harvesting of hardwood species, especially the rosewood tree, by the lumber industry (restricted completely in parks).
They also cover a ban on hunting/trapping by indigenous people for food (strictly enforced in parks), and a ban on trapping/selling for exotic pet trade.The result is lemurs as a group positively affect Malagasy tourism because they are found nowhere else on earth naturally.
Overview
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