Endangered Animals in Madagascar

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Located 250 miles off the coast of mainland Africa, it is a treasure trove for animal lovers. Its rich biodiversity is home to a large number of endemic animals. Of the 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, 150,000 species exist nowhere else in the world.

The tropical rainforests, temperate woodlands, spiny deserts, and mountains of Madagascar is home to lemurs, tenrecs, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, chameleons, colorful birds, and thousands of species of insects. About 70 species of lemurs, 223 species of frogs, and 33 species of tenrecs inhabit the terrains of this island nation.

Here, we discuss about some endangered animals in Madagascar:

Lemurs in the Mist: They were once found throughout Africa, but are now confined to Madagascar. They belong to a primitive family of primates, and more than 70 species of them are known so far. With the arrival of the human beings on the island, 16 of their species have become extinct. The remaining species are seriously endangered due to habitat loss.

Ring-tailed Lemurs: They are grayish-brown having long tails with bands of white and black rings. They have white faces with darkly ringed eyes, and long pointed noses. They are adaptable creatures, and live in a variety of forest types. Preferably, they live in open areas, and spend a lot of time on the ground. They are social animals found in the groups of about 30 individuals.

They remain active during the day, and often engage themselves in “stink-fighting”. To intimidate their rivals, they produce strong scent and wave their tails in the air. They use facial expressions and vocal sounds to communicate with each other.

Loss of habitat has caused a threat to their existence. Although they are officially protected, hunting and capturing of this animal is a regular activity. Sometimes, they are even killed for food or captured to be sold in the market as exotic pet trade.

Aye Aye: It is an unusual animal having peculiar looks. Its huge eyes, a pointed nose, bat-like ears, and long bony-fingers make it look different from others. They are considered as a sign of bad luck or omen by the local people. It is a nocturnal creature, and mainly feeds on insects, fruit, and coconut.

Persecution by human being and loss of habitat due to farming and logging activity has created difficulties for their existence. They are one of the most endangered animals in Madagascar.

Tenrecs: They are insectivore mammals found in the mainland Africa and Madagascar. They can be almost white or very dark. Their coat has prickly spines, which are used to deter the predators. About thirty different species of this animal are found in Madagascar. They live in aquatic, terrestrial, and arboreal ecology. Loss of natural habitat on the island has endangered their existence.

Therefore, it is important to save the biological wealth of this island nation. Madagascar is on the top-priority for conservation among the wildlife organizations. The Madagascar Fauna Group is one organization working for the conservation of natural habitats of lemurs and other endangered animals.