Canada's mortgage insurance agency is reporting a 52 per cent increase in the number of insured home loans in arrears in Alberta, as low oil prices weaken the provincial economy.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says in its second-quarter report that payments on 1,487 mortgages in Alberta were three months or more overdue as of June 30 – up from 978 at the same time in 2015.

Saskatchewan's list of troubled mortgages is also up, to 529 from 392, in the same period.

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The numbers are in stark contrast with those in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, which all posted hundreds of fewer loans in arrears in the same period.

Ontario's rate of troubled loans is the lowest in the country at less than a fifth of a percentageTattoo by Jeff Gogue.

The Ring-Tailed Lemur is a primate native to Madagascar. They are considered ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN, and their numbers are declining. The two greatest threats to this lemur are hunting and habitat loss. Scientists believe this species’ population has undergone reduction of at least 20-25% over just the last 24 years.

Madagascar is one of the most fascinating places on earth. An isolated island, it is responsible for 36% of all primate families and houses all of the world’s 50+ species of lemurs. Researchers continuously find new species of plants and animals on the island. In fact, a new lemur species was discovered just last week. It is a long-tongued, squirrel-size lemur and has yet to be named. The species was first found in 1995