Despite its relatively small size, Madagascar has the third highest number of primate species in the world, after Brazil and Indonesia. In the 1500-2000 years since the island was settled by humans, about 15 lemur species and most of Madagascar's other large animal species have become extinct.
Many more species face imminent extinction even as they are being discovered and described.
Efforts to preserve Madagascar's lemurs and other unique fauna are among the conservation community's highest priorities. This chapter describes the zoo community's efforts to protect the long-term survival of prosimians.