Assessing the effect of anthropogenic stress on the health of lemurs in the wild in Madagascar

Lemurs are among the most iconic animals of Madagascar. To this day, there are still 5 families: Cheirogaleidae, Lemuridae, Lepilemuridae, Indriidae, and Daubentoniidae. For an area of ​​587,000 square kilometers, this represents an extraordinary level of diversity. Despite their great diversity, lemurs are the most threatened group of mammals in the world. More than 90% of lemur species are endangered.

 

Lemurs are highly sensitive to anthropogenic stressors

Lemurs are extremely sensitive to anthropogenic stressors such as deforestation, mining activities, and hunting, which negatively impact their health. Evaluating how these pressures affect their physiology is crucial for their conservation. In this project, researchers posit that these pressures have a direct and proportional relationship with parasitic infection rates in lemurs.

 

Samples taken in Madagascar and in Belgian zoos