Mongoose Lemur Wild Status

The mongoose lemur is an endangered animal. If current trends persist the lemurs will be facing extinction in the next 100 years (Cohn, 1985). The habitat in which they live is suffering from the agricultural and hunting practices of the Malagasy people living within the rural areas (Richard & Sussman, 1975). Traditional ways in which the animals have been forced into endangerment are hunting of the lemurs for food and several ways in which the habitat is deforested, which includes slash and burn techniques and wood cutting for reasons such as the use of firewood and house building (Richard & Sussman, 1975). There have also been more modern means of exploiting the land. Major deforestation has occurred because of commercial enterprise. The logging and massive deforestation for the planting of crops may be one of the main reasons why the mongoose lemur is being found less and less (Richard & Sussman, 1975). The Ankarafantsika is the only reserve in Madagascar where mongoose lemurs can be found (IUCN, 1991).