If you’ve heard of Madagascar (surprisingly few people have), it’s probably in the same sentence as the word ”endemic”. 90% of the species found in Madagascar are endemic. Meaning that they’re not found anywhere else. That’s quite incredible. Madagascar is the only place on earth home to such a percentage of endemicity. Endemic species are constricted to living within a limited geographical environment because they’re merely not able to adapt to a different one. So how is it that Madagascar provides exactly the right environment for these organisms? And why is it so incredibly important to support the preservation efforts within the country? Well, that’s what we’ll take a look at in this post.
What is so special about the Madagascan wildlife?
Madagascar is believed to have been a part of Africa before it started to drift away more than 165 million years ago. Since then it’s been completely isolated from the surrounding continents. Scientists have found remains of prehistoric creatures, but have also concluded that the current non-human habitants of the island were not present when it separated from Africa. Where their ancestors came from is something science is not yet able to tell us, but one thing’s for sure; an extraordinary evolution has happened in Madagascar. The current species have evolved in Madagascar and are created for their specific environment. Therefore they are unable to adapt anywhere else.
Do you have chills of excitement right now? I know I do!
Madagascar’s level of endemicity is not just limited to species, but in fact to several families across flora and fauna. To power up the significance, I’m gonna put some actual numbers to it. Madagascar is housing 11.200 endemic plants, 308 endemic amphibians, more than 400 species of endemic reptiles, and five entire endemic families of mammals. And that’s just on land. We haven’t even begun to discuss marine biodiversity yet.
Another special thing about Madagascar is the absence of species you would typically see in this part of the world. As opposed to what the Dream Works movie ”Madagascar” might have taught you, there are no lions, zebras, or giraffes on the island. In fact, non of the giants you typically associate with Africa are found in Madagascar. The largest animal, apart from the Nile Crocodile, is the Fossa. In size, the Fossa is comparable to a Cocker Spaniel.
Why is it important to protect the wildlife in Madagascar?
Endemicity has one huge problem. When a species is unable to adapt to a different environment, it is at great risk of extinction. Many of the endemic animals in Madagascar are classified as endangered or critically endangered, and several species are already extinct. Now, one might not think of one single specie as a loss for nature, but in fact species – both fauna and flora – are deeply dependent on each other. The loss of one type of mammal will quickly turn into the loss of entire biodiversity and vice versa. That’s why protecting the biodiversity in Madagascar is crucial – even in a greater context.
What are they doing about it?
The Madagascan government and several global organizations are trying to tackle the problem. Easier said than done, though. Numerous preservation projects are working in different parts of the country. New national parks and private reserves are seeing the light frequently. However, the biggest threat to the Madagascan environment is severe poverty. It’s difficult to make the population understand the importance of leaving nature alone when it is the sole basis of their survival. Deforestation will build and heat their houses, hunting lemurs will fill their stomachs, and creating farms in unspoiled nature will send their kids to school. Now, who can argue with that priority? Luckily, we’ve got those Samarian organizations to help.
How can you help Madagascar’s wildlife?
I’m glad you asked! Easy. There are millions of ways to support the economy in the country. Financial support, trade, or moving there to start a sustainable business like me! But if those options are not part of your plan (which is totally understandable), I have an even better solution. Take a vacation here! Tourism is an industry directly affecting the population. It supplies the country with foreign currency, creates business, and more importantly, creates jobs. Furthermore, tourists come to experience the uniqueness of the environment, encouraging the locals to take extra good care of their surroundings – even in hard times.
So, given that you choose to travel with businesses who do their part in protecting their environment and their staff, you will be doing a good deed while having the time of your life. Not bad, huh? If you’re not convinced yet, read my article 12 Reasons to Visit Madagascar. Then for sure, I’ll see you down here in a jiffy.
