UN: Ecosystems under threat from monkey hunters: 22-05-2008
Scientists at the UN conference on biodiversity in Bonn, Germany, warned on Tuesday (May 20th) that the overhunting of monkeys around the world could lead to extinction and cause entire ecosystems to collapse.
Monkeys play a key role in the spreading of seeds and German-based conservation organisation, Pro Wildlife is concerned.
"Animals like monkeys are facing near-extinction through hunting everywhere in the tropics," said Pro Wildlife spokeswoman Sandra Altherr.
"Hunting laws are not being applied and the proclaimed conservation areas are completely inadequate. If key species, like monkeys, become extinct, entire ecosystems are under threat," she said.
Madagascar has been labelled a top priority in primate conservation due to the island being responsible for 36 per cent of all primate families worldwide, the second highest number of primate species in the world, behind Brazil.
Most of Madagascar's primate population is made up of lemurs and it is the only country in the world to boast wild lemurs, many of which are on the endangered species list.