Spotlight on Students: Primate Conservation

The following is a guest post featuring the work of students enrolled in my Anth 102 courses.  These students are highlighting the importance of primate conservation and featuring specific primates that are currently endangered.  I hope you find these pieces informative and are inspired to make a positive change in the world that will help these and other endangered primates.




April Bruan   
Anth 102 1501: Introduction to Physical Anthropology

Blue-eyed black lemur baby

            There are several endangered species in the world today. Many of these species are endangered either directly or indirectly by humans. Often times if humans would cease the behavior contributing to the demise of a species then the species might have a better chance of making a comeback. All species have a place and a role on Earth so we should work hard to save every one of them. Eulemur flavirons, also known as the blue-eyed black lemur or Sclater’s lemur is a stunning creature. Unfortunately, according to the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) the blue-eyed black lemur is considered critically endangered. Critically endangered means that there is a high risk of the species disappearing and becoming extinct in the wild. In 2013 the IUCN reported that this lemur has been critically endangered since 1996 and before that it had been considered endangered since 1986. The population of the blue-eyed black lemurs continues to dwindle (IUCN).

            The blue-eyed black lemur is one of only two primates besides humans that have blue eyes (Philadelphia). Blue-eyed black lemurs are sexually dichromatic, meaning that the males and females look different (Duke).  The fur of the males is all black. The fur of the female can range from brown to gray. The females of this species are dominant to the males and the lemurs live in large groups consisting of males, females, and young (Racine). The blue-eyed black lemurs are mostly frugivores and folivores, meaning that their diet consists of fruit, leaves, plants, flowers, and occasionally insects or very small animals (Duke).  Blue-eyed black lemurs in the wild can only be found in the Sambirano region of northwest of Madagascar, living in the trees (IUCN).

            Humans are partially responsible for the blue-eyed black lemur being endangered. Humans have been cutting down the trees and using a technique called slash and burn to clear the  land lemurs use as their habitat in order to use it for farming (IUCN). Humans are also endangering the blue-eyed black lemurs through hunting and trapping (Duke). The lemurs that are hunted or trapped are used for food or occasionally to keep the animal as a pet (Taylor).

            The blue-eyed black lemur is almost always on the top ten list of endangered lemurs. According to the Duke Lemur Center it is difficult to get an accurate count, but it is possible that there are no more than 1000 blue-eyed black lemurs in the wild. There are currently some efforts being made to try to protect the blue-eyed black lemur. In the Befotaka region of Madagascar there is a proposed reserve area in order to attempt to help protect the lemur, but nothing has been made official or legal as of yet (Duke). If we could actually get this reserve up and running and protecting the lemurs in their natural environment then they might have a better chance to get their numbers back up. There are some zoos that are trying and successfully breeding the blue-eyed black lemur. Last year a baby was born at the Mulhouse Zoo and Botanical Park in France (Taylor).

            It is important that we keep the blue-eyed black lemur for a couple of reasons. One of the main reasons to prevent the extinction of these animals is because many species of lemurs are endangered and they generally live in different areas. The lemurs play a role in the ecosystem with their diets. By spreading seeds from the fruits they eat and also with pollination. When a lemur eats a flower, they get the flower’s pollen on their fur and carry it along to the next flower.  By doing this they help to keep the plants in their habitat reproducing. Blue-eyed black lemurs are also part of the food chain and are a food source for other wild life. If they were to disappear, their loss would impact the rest of the ecosystem. 

            Every primate species needs to be saved from extinction for the same reasons that the blue-eyed lemur needs to be saved from extinction. When a species becomes extinct, their habitat is altered by the loss of it living there. The food chain is disrupted, causing either the predator of that species to have a hard time or another species becoming the new prey. Humans also then turn to another species to meet the needs that the extinct species previously met.

            The blue-eyed black lemur is just one of many primates that are critically endangered today. We need to save all endangered primates, especially the ones that we are directly responsible for endangering. We also need to stop causing other animals and plant species from becoming endangered, continuing the cycle of endangering certain species. 

 

Works Cited   

"Blue-eyed Black Lemur." Duke Lemur Center RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://                       lemur.duke.edu/discover/meet-the-lemurs/blue-eyed-black-lemur/>.

"Blue-eyed black lemur." - Philadelphia Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://                       www.philadelphiazoo.org/Animals/Mammals/Primates/Blue-Eyed-Black-Lemur.aspx>.

"Blue-eyed black lemur fact sheet." Racine Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2014. <https://                              www.racinezoo.org/blue-eyed-black-lemur-fact-sheet>.

"Eulemur flavifrons." (Blue-eyed Black Lemur, Sclater's Black Lemur, Sclater's Lemur). N.p.,                    n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/8211/

Taylor, Victoria. "Extremely rare blue-eyed black lemur born at French zoo ." NY Daily News.                   N.p., 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/                    endangered-blue-eyed-black-lemur-rare-born-french-zoo-article-1.1322069>.

This Northern Sportive Lemur is not happy about the news of its species being endangered.  Source: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11622/0

Sophie Marshall

Anthropology 102: 1001

            Many primate species are endangered all over the world. The main cause behind the endangerment of these species is generally due to human activity. Like all organisms, all primates play key roles in their ecosystems. If these primates were to go extinct, then it could cause other incredibly negative side effects. It is important that we remain aware of all endangered species. We must show a significant amount of consideration for their well being.

There are many factors that are causing the endangerment of various primate species around the world, but one of the most powerful factors is typically human activity. One of the most rare species of lemur on Earth exists in Madagascar, and it is known as the Northern Sportive Lemur (iucn.org). An important fact on the country of Madagascar is included in the Conservation International: “Sadly, Madagascar is also one of the most heavily impacted countries on Earth in terms of recent habitat destruction” (conservation.org). As almost all primates, the main cause to the endangerment of the Northern Sportive Lemur is generally human activity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides several important factors caused by humans that influence the endangerment of these species by stating, “The main threats are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests the hunting of primates for food, and the illegal wildlife trade” (iucn.org).

A variety of different steps can be taken in attempting to raise the population of the Northern Sportive Lemur. As it is stated in the Conservation International, because of the current political status in Madagascar the environment in which the Northern Sportive Lemur lives in is becoming an even more detrimental habitat each day, and this is greatly caused by the unresolved poverty and hunting laws within the island country  (conservation.org). If specific laws were put into place to help benefit the well being of these lemurs then things could improve. A solution needs to be developed that involves the people of Madagascar because they are one of the main factors in the endangerment of the Northern Sportive Lemur. The only problem is this can be generally hard because of the current political status in Madagascar. In this case, the work can be greatly left upon conservationists to find the solution.

There are many reasons why all organisms on Earth should attempt to refrain from becoming extinct. Every organism on Earth has its role in the environment around it. Each life cycle consists of many key parts that are necessary for successful circulation, and each organism on Earth plays a role in at least one life cycle. It is stated by the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, “people who share a home with this lemur can become direct beneficiaries of the conservation of the Northern Sportive lemur” (madagascarpertnership.org). There are many factors within the environment of the Northern Sportive Lemur that benefit from its existence. Without it, many aspects of the Northern Sportive Lemur’s environment, its predators, or even the substances it consumes can have drastically negative effects placed upon them if this lemur were to go extinct.

The existence of all primates is equivalent to the existence of all things on Earth. Every thing on Earth plays its role in the environment in which it exists, and without it many factors of that environment would be at a total loss. The Chairman of the IUCN, Russel Mitermeir, presents a very important fact on all primates by stating, “more than 90 percent of all known primates occur in this endangered biome” (iucn.org). By stating this, Mitermeir is describing the importance of primates in the tropical rain forest biome. The importance of primates also greatly falls under the fact that they are our most significant and similar ancestors. The existence of all primates is greatly important in broadening our understanding of ourselves as humans as well as our history.

It is necessary for us to acknowledge the existence of all living things in this world. We also must consider the well being of all endangered organisms on Earth. Without them we would be at a loss with many things in this world. We must remain aware of the factors that are causing the endangerment of various species, and this is mainly insightful because we can typically be one of the factors that cause endangerment.

Works Cited

"Conservation International." Conservation International. 13 July 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/New-Finding-Lemurs-Most-Threatened-Mammal-Species.aspx>.

"IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature." IUCN. 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"Northern Sportive Lemur." Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.