Lemur Lessons: The Unintended Consequences of Human Contact The risks posed by human contact with animals are well documented in the field of conservation.
A recent study from the University of Florida highlights this issue, as veterinarians discovered that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) had proven fatal for a group of privately owned lemurs.
The findings are alarming. HSV 1 may be a relatively harmless human affliction, but it is highly lethal when transmitted to non human primates.