Going Mad in Madagascar

Disturbing news that an invasion by tens of thousands of sapphire prospectors is endangering the unique wildlife in Madagascar's rainforests (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/sapphire-rush-threatens-rainforests-of-madagascar). Madagascar, because of its long geographical isolation, has many unique plants and is home to major concentrations of lemurs ('primitive' primates). The gem stone finds are impressive and, as usual, people find it difficult to resist the allure of getting rich quick (even if the unique biodiversity is more 'saleable' in the long-term).