Aye-Aye Finger Inspired Death Superstition

The aye-aye is a harmless Madagascar lemur with a gremlin-like face and a long, bony, witch-like middle finger. In some Malagasy communities, people believe the animal is a harbinger of death and that anyone it points at has received a death sentence. Some villagers kill aye-ayes on sight to prevent the predicted death, even though the animals pose no threat to humans. This superstition has contributed to the species' declining population.

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