Madagascar at a Crossroads

Brookesia chameleons are some of the smallest reptiles on Earth. They live mostly in the dry deciduous forests of Madagascar.

Between development and conservation, an island’s unparalleled biodiversity persists

Story and Photos by Anisa Abid
Fall 2008

Walking through the rainforest in Madagascar’s Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, the haunting call of the Indri, the largest living lemur, can be heard from more than a mile away. Its eerie call in a misty rainforest, where moss drapes off the canopy and earthen smells fill the air, sets the tone for the challenges this species faces. With about three adults per square mile in one of the park’s restricted forest fragments, they are one of the many lemur species threatened with extinction.

They’re not the only endangered animals on the island.

Since man arrived 1,500 years ago, deforestation has accounted for a 90 percent loss of natural trees, according to the World Wildlife Fund. And many rare plant and animal species — like the elephant bird and pygmy hippopotamus — have gone extinct.

There are 355 species of animals — 99 of which are fish or mollusks — and 281 plants listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Madagascar primatologist Jonah Ratsimbazafy said a growing population is straining the country’s remaining natural resources.

“We have a saying: All cows cannot awake at the same time,” Ratsimbazafy said. “There are some people who are aware of the problem. Some people, maybe tomorrow.”

He works with the Durrell Wildife Conservation Trust to educate and organize the local community to protect the forests.

Those communities are rewarded through Durrell’s management-transfer programs, which include building schools or infrastructure in exchange for conserving nature.

“If man is part of the problem, he should be part of the solution,” Ratsimbazafy said.

An Island Apart
When Madagascar broke away from Africa about 60 million years ago, its isolation resulted in an extremely high level of endemic species, those found nowhere else. Scientists believe creatures slowly inhabited the island by floating on vegetation rafts across the Mozambique Channel.

They evolved quickly to fit unique niches.

Lemur species as small as mice feed at night on insects. Others are much larger and eat leaves during the day. They can spring from tree to tree — some can leap as far as 33 feet and land on a spike-covered tree trunk without pricking themselves. They are found in various habitats, from mountain forests to wetlands — the Alaotran gentle lemur is the world’s only primate that lives exclusively in wetlands. Lemurs have adapted to feed on particular parts of plants, so they rarely compete for food.

Though Africa hosts a larger number of species in general, Madagascar holds more endemic — strictly native — species — on an area about the size of France. The island features seven of the eight existing baobab trees, compared to only one in all of Africa. Of the 101 native animal species recorded on the island, nearly all are endemic. Conservation International considers Madagascar one of, if not the most significant biodiversity “hotspots.” An Australian study named it among the top six of the world’s 18 countries having exceptional biodiversity.

Vanishing Act
Most of Madagascar’s unusual animals and plants have decreased since man arrived 15 centuries ago and began fishing and cattle ranching. Since then, one-fifth of all known lemur species and a third of known genera of lemur have gone extinct.

As much as is known about the country’s biodiversity, there may still be more unknown.

New species are continually discovered. An upcoming report from the International Journal of Primatology states 39 species of lemur have been discovered since 2000, including 11 new species of mouse lemurs.

Habitat loss from deforestation, which extends to multiple classes of wildlife, is the underlying threat for these endangered animals.

Lemurs face additional pressure from hunters who stalk them for food or cultural beliefs. The endangered aye-aye, for example, looks more like a bat with its dark fur, orange eyes, large ears, and long, curved, claw-like nails. Yet it is a harmless nocturnal lemur that is routinely killed by some superstitious locals who consider it to be a portent of evil, according to Kyoto University’s Zoology Department.

The exotic pet trade, a multi-billion dollar industry, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has left several turtle species critically endangered. Ploughshare Tortoises are extremely rare — only about 600 remain in the wild, according to Durrell.

The majestic Madagascar fish-eagle faces extinction. The bird of prey once lived along 1,300 miles of western coastline.

But deforestation and encroaching development has shrunk its habitat to less than 30 percent of that — a scant 370 miles, according to Durrell. Only about 230 critically endangered pairs remain, according to The Peregrine Fund’s latest estimate.

At about 2.5 feet long with a 6.5-foot wingspan, they are the largest species of eagles or hawks in Madagascar.

In Madagascar’s rivers and surrounding ocean, endemic fish populations are fast becoming exhausted because of invasive species competition and over-fishing. From 1980-2005, fish production skyrocketed from 53 to 8,500 tons, according to the United Nations. Humans are also inadvertently degrading coral reefs through eco-tourism.

Some areas in the country’s southwest coast have lost up to 99 percent of coral cover, according to a study by marine conservation group Blue Ventures.

Climate change also threatens wildlife, according to a 2008 study by Rice University ecologist Amy Dunham. She predicted the endangered Milne-Edwards’ sifaka — a lemur found in southeastern Madagascar — would lose half its population within three generations. Changing weather patterns could also threaten animals. Dunham found lemurs are more than 65 percent less fertile in El Niño years.

Running On Empty
Madagascar is home to more than 18 million people, according to Conservation International. That number grows annually by 3 percent and is expected to double by 2025. Ratsimbazafy said increased competition for land and resources will push wildlife further toward extinction.

“If the same speed of current deforestation still continues within the next 25 years, there [will be] no forest left in Madagscar,” Ratsimbazafy said. “No forest, no biodiversity. It’s very scary.”

The United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization has listed six rainforest parks in Madagascar as World Heritage sites, making them eligible for conservation funding. Other non- governmental organizations, like Durrell and the Andosibe-based Mitsinjo, try to balance conservation with improving locals’ quality of life through agricultural training, education initiatives — including building schools — and eco-tourism jobs.

The Malagasy need all the help they can get. More than 68 percent live in poverty, and 85 percent of those live in rural areas, according to 2005 figures from the National Institute of Statistics. Malagasy life expectancy is about 55 years. Poor hygiene, chronic malnutrition and lack of drinking water contributes to 84 of every 1,000 children dying before age 5, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

Outside Andasibe park, children walk barefoot to school past shacks — made of little more than sticks and raffia palm leaves next to pigpens and open sewers. Many children work in muddy rice paddys.

“Conservation is always difficult when people get little access to food, little access to healthcare or little access to education,” Ratsimbazafy said. “This is not only a concern for Madagascar, but a world concern for all scientists, for all conservationists.”

Anisa Abid is a second-year graduate student in MSU’s environmental journalism program. This is her second appearance in EJ. Contact her at abidanis@msu.edu. Abid studied wildlife in Madagascar in the Summer of 2008 as part of a Michigan State University study abroad program.