Madagascar's largest lake, the Alaotra Lake, is the only home to one of the world's 25 most endangered primates: Lake Alaotra bamboo lemur.

Also known as Lake Alaotra gentle lemur or reed lemur, this small creature is the only primate in the world that primarily resides in marshlands.

Weighing less than two kilograms, this lemur is only 40 centimeters in length. Despite the name, they do not eat bamboo. They depends almost solely on the stems and leaves of papyrus plants.

Threatened by habitat loss, mainly due to the conversion of their habitat rich in reeds into rice fields, their numbers have rapidly declined. Since the 1990s, their population has decreased by over 80 percent, falling from an estimated 11,000 to about 2,500. Per the latest report, there may be below 1,000 individuals today.

While conservation groups have been pushing for the establishment of protected areas around the Alaotra Lake, the current state of protection for this animal is still largely influenced by the unstable economic situation of Madagascar.

Primates in jeopardy

As the most common primate on Earth, homo sapiens share the same order with the other 512 species across 93 countries. Non-human primates are our closest relatives on this planet. They play a significant role in various ecosystems, from the mysterious tropical forests to the grand African savannas. Their intelligence is fascinating and sheds light on studies of human society and behaviors.

However, many species of primates are on the brink of extinction. The series "Primates in jeopardy" is based on the list of "World's 25 Most Endangered Primates (2018-2020)" co-published by IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) and Bristol Zoological Society (BZS).

This is the 10th iteration of a biennial listing of a consensus of the 25 primate species considered to be among the most endangered worldwide and the most in need of conservation measures.

(All photos via VCG. Cover image designed by CGTN's Chen Yuyang.)

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