1. Bushmeat: Aye-ayes are hunted for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some parts of Madagascar. Their meat is said to be tender and flavorful, and it is often cooked in stews or soups. Unfortunately, hunting aye-ayes for bushmeat is a major threat to their survival.
2. Traditional Medicine: Aye-ayes are also poached for use in traditional medicine. In some cultures, aye-ayes are believed to have medicinal properties, and their body parts are used to treat various illnesses. For example, their tails are sometimes used to treat asthma and their fur is used to treat rheumatism. The use of aye-ayes in traditional medicine contributes to their decline in the wild.
In addition to these two main reasons, aye-ayes are also sometimes poached for the pet trade. However, this is not as common as hunting for bushmeat or traditional medicine.
Poaching is a serious threat to aye-ayes, and it is one of the main reasons why their population is declining. In order to protect aye-ayes and ensure their survival, it is important to raise awareness about the threats they face and to work to reduce poaching.