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JOHANNESBURG — From giant palms to mouse-sized lemurs, unique plants and animals are threatened on Madagascar as political deadlock drags on after a 2009 coup.
The World Wildlife Fund drew attention to the Indian Ocean island’s natural wealth in a report released today that looks at the more than 600 new species discovered on the island between 1999 and 2010. Madagascar’s rain forests, with their valuable timber, were pillaged following the coup, the WWF said in its report “Treasure Island: New biodiversity in Madagascar.” The killing of forest animals, including lemurs, for food also increased, as did poverty as the crucial tourism trade suffered, the environmental group said.
