Ghosts of the forest

Ghosts of the forest. . , In Latin, lemur means "ghost.", In Malagasky folklore, lemurs appear as sacred spirits never to be harmed., In reality, lemurs are wide-eyed prosimian primates facing an uncertain future., Lemurs inhabit the ever-shrinking forests of Madagascar, an island nation off the east coast of Africa. All lemurs are threatened and many have been pushed to the brink of extinction by human activity on the island. For lemurs to survive, Madagascar must act to preserve its forests and protect its wildlife., Many individuals and organizations in Madagascar and around the world are working hard to conserve the island's rich biodiversity. One such organization is the Madagascar Fauna Group which this zoo supports. Their efforts include restoring lost habitat and helping local communities manage natural resources more sustainably., Prosimians evolved before monkeys and apes and resemble primates that lived at last 50 million years ago., There are more than 70 known species of lemur., Lemurs are native only to the island of Madagascar., At least 17 species of lemur have gone extinct since the arrival of humans on Madagascar about 2,000 years ago., Giant lemurs, some as big as gorillas, existed until relatively recently., Some new species of lemur are still being discovered., Trees are disappearing from Madagascar, sacrificed to slash-and-burn agriculture and timber industry., Lemurs live in trees.