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Madagascar’s lemurs have little time left. The animals are facing a new danger from the urban elite of the country who are paying handsomely for their meat. How is this impacting biodiversity and ecosystems in the region and beyond?
A new study published in the Conservation Letters says that wealthy urban residents of Madagascar are eating the flesh of one of the world’s most endangered primates.
Eating lemurs has gained popularity as an obscure health trend in the country, thought to promote vigour and strength, despite a complete absence of evidence.
Madagascar is the only natural habitat of lemurs. According to the Duke Lemur Center, there are over 100 species found in Madagascar. These creatures contribute to the pollination of trees, seed dispersal, and maintaining an important balance of the forest ecosystem that millions of people rely on.
According to the IUCN Red List, 98% of lemurs are facing extinction and one-third of all lemur species are classified as ‘critically endangered’. This is due to habitat loss through human encroachment, destruction of forests, the illegal wildlife trade, and now, the increased consumer demand for lemur meat.
Researchers estimate that the increasing consumption trend among wealthy urban dwellers in Madagascar may have resulted in the sale and consumption of over 10,000 lemurs.
Historically, this shift in hunting patterns from rural populations to urban populations shows a much more significant issue of normalizing the exploitation of wildlife, resulting in potentially irreversible damage to Madagascar’s remaining forests.
Lemurs are known to be ecological trendsetters. They fertilize the soil, pollinate rare plants and spread seeds across vast forest regions. Some tree species depend entirely on lemurs to survive.
When their numbers begin to dwindle, entire forest systems start to show signs of collapse. Madagascar is already contending with several climate catastrophes, and the perilous reality for lemurs could affect deforestation and biodiversity loss on an even greater scale.
The rise in lemur meat consumption indicates a larger regional pattern where traditional beliefs about ‘strength-giving’ foods lead to dangerous exploitation. But this new Malagasy shift is especially concerning because it is socially aspirational, driven by affluent populations whose choices carry cultural influence.
Studies warn that if the demand spreads, lemurs may be pushed to extinction. Madagascar’s lemur crisis is part of a wider pattern around the world, where species essential to their ecosystems are being wiped out because they’re seen as exotic, medicinal, or a luxury dish.
