From the Inbox - Help stop the slaughter of Madagascar's lemurs

An appalling assault on lemurs, and ultimately the local communities of Madagascar is underway. After Madagascar's coup earlier this year, many international bodies including the World Bank and the US government suspended conservation and development work in Madagascar weakening environmental governanace. Fringe criminal gangs are taking advantage of the absence of law and international support. Illegal logging is on the rise and recently reported is the illegal hunting and selling of lemurs to restaurant owners as bushmeat. More than anything else, these poachers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg, wiping out the very animals that people most want to see, and undercutting the country and especially local communities by robbing them of future ecotourism revenue. Russell Mittermeier, President, Conservation International A stable government is vital to the health and well-being of every country's people and ecosystems. Help support our work around the world. Make a gift today. Sadly, once the dust settles on these profiteers’ criminal actions, what is left will be an empty forest without the natural resilience necessary to continue delivering the water, climate and sustainable food sources on which all life in Madagascar depends. Lemurs are just one fragile piece of Madagascar's unique biodiversity. CI has been working with the people and government of Madagascar on conservation issues for 19 years. Now, we must do everything we can to put Madagascar’s people first and stop this exploitation at the hands of criminal profiteers. Act now—Support CI's work in critical areas around the world such as Madagascar.	Last week, CI released reports of massive illegal logging and hunting of lemurs in Madagascar. Removing lemurs and the forests of Madagascar will ultimately hurt the people of this country. Support our important conservation work around the world TODAY.
Photo credits:Malagasy children © CI/photo by Russell Mittermeier Lemurs © CI/photo by Haroldo Castro Deforestation in Madagascar © CI/photo by Haroldo Castro