What is so remarkable is that this is the largest number of primate discoveries that have occurred in the past century at the same time. Urs Thalman, Thomas Geissmann, Colin Groves, Rodin Rasoloarison, Steven Goodman, and Joerg Ganzhorn conducted the studies and published their findings in the December 2000 issue of the journal. With these latest discoveries, the number of known lemur species total 61. This brings Madagascar into second place globally in primate species diversity, with Brazil claiming the most species at 79. Primates, including these new species, face many threats, including habitat destruction, bushmeat hunting, and live capture.
Lemurs are among the most endangered primates in the world.
In Madagascar, more than 90 percent of all original natural habitats have been destroyed. The International Primatological Society congress outlined an action plan to maintain the full range of primate diversity. The plan recommends focusing conservation efforts on the 150 most critically endangered and endangered species by determining the areas that need protection, identifying the projects that need to be instituted, and establishing cost. But while they are under tremendous threats, there is still hope if we take action now. These findings provide a compelling reason to take immediate action to protect the Earth's tropical forests, which are being destroyed at an accelerated pace wiping out untold numbers of valuable plant and animal species, some of which we don't even know exist.