Poaching is one of the reasons the lemurs threaten to disappear. Lemurs are popular and many are prepared to pay large sums to get a lemur as a pet. There are also local customs where lemur meat is included in the diet.

Another reason is the widespread deforestation on the island off the African east coast. Of Madagascar's forests, only ten percent of the forest cover that once existed remains.

Of the 103 species that are listed as severely threatened, 33 are acutely endangered. One of them is the small Muslim wall which, with its weight of 30 grams, is the world's smallest choice. Soon, the only lemurs left may be those born in captivity.

Sixth mass extinction threatens

Lemur is just one of many species that are included in the list of highly endangered species. The IUCN also warns that the North Atlantic Right Whale (a subspecies for bard whale) is about to disappear. Only 250 sexually mature individuals are estimated to remain.

The researchers believe that climate change is one of the causes. Warmer ocean temperatures drive the right whales to the north, so they end up in the shipping lanes that are trawling the Gulf of St. Lawrence in eastern Canada. More recently, more frequent incidents have been reported where the whales collide with vessels or get caught in networks.

Recovery during corona pandemic

According to the IUCNS report, the world is on the verge of mass extinction of various species, the sixth mass extinction in 500 million years. This time driven by man.

One bright point is that ecosystems in different ways show the recovery during the corona pandemic as global economic activity has slowed, according to the IUCN.