Verreaux's sifaka  (Propithecus verreauxi)

Over the past 30 years, numbers of Verreaux's sifaka have declined as its habitat is destroyed for timber, firewood and charcoal (1). Hunting is also a threat to this threatened lemur; whilst hunting of Verreaux's sifaka is considered taboo by many tribes living within its range, other tribes and people immigrating into the region do carry out hunting (1) (2).

Madagascar is well renowned for its unique biodiversity, and thus has been the focus of major conservation efforts over the years. Numerous conservation organisations work alongside the country’s government, striving to protect the island’s fauna and flora (7). As a result, there are numerous protected areas (7), nine of which contain populations of Verreaux's sifaka (1), and there were plans to triple the protected area coverage (7). However, unfortunately, the future of these conservation efforts now hang in the balance; March 2009 saw Madagascar’s government forced out after a military-backed coup. Amid this political turmoil, international agencies pulled out of the country as armed groups entered protected areas, illegally harvesting valuable hardwoods and killing lemurs that were then sold to restaurants in towns as ‘delicacies’ (8). Only time will tell if the newly-formed government will continue to protect the country’s unique and valuable biodiversity.