Lemurs or Humans: Conservation in Madagascar

I didn’t even realize it was a childhood dream of mine to see a lemur bounding around in front of me until these Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) swooped down from their perch high in the tree tops. As a kid, I would sit and watch Zamboomafoo for hours, noisily squealing in delight whenever the protagonist lemur hopped onto the main set. I was mesmerized by every new animal highlighted in each episode, and looking back I think this was the moment I wanted to a be wildlife biologist/vet. Although years have passed the awe I have for animals has never left. What has changed are the layers of knowledge guiding me to understand that the problems these creatures are facing can not be settled inside of a bubble. The issues are hugely complex and are not solvable by focusing only on the protection but rather by continuing to illuminate the forces that lead to the deforestation of their habitats or the decline in their populations. When we talk about conserving species we often take people out of the equation. We forget that humans, animals and the environment have been co-existing for so long and that endangered flora and fauna may not be the only ones adapting to changing environments or struggling to survive. We demonize communities who share space with endangered species, without looking at the millions of factors that influence their behavior. We neglect to stop to think about why people are forced to do what they do or how we as consumers play a paramount role in the support of the industries that cause these problems. Awareness of the problems is crucial but equally important is seeking out and eradicating the underlying causes.