What's special?

SILKY SIFAKA
(Propithecus candidus) also know as the Angel Lemur. The silky sifaka is new species of primate (Mayor et al. 2004), one of the three most critically endangered primates in Madagascar, and one
of the top 25 most critically endangered primates out of over 620 total primate taxa (Mittermeier et al. 2005b).

Lemurs

“Spirits of the night”, that is what the term Lemures means in Latin. And truly they seem to be spirits, when jumping from one tree to another in the twilight. One Species is even called “Angel of the forest”.
Lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros, which means they don’t exist anywhere else. The five families of lemurs contain 99 species and subspecies. They are the kings and queens of the forest and most tourists come to see them in the first place.

read more about lemurs

Palm trees

165 of Madagascar's 170 palms are not found anywhere else in the world. As a comparison, mainland Africa has less than 60 species of palm trees!
Only two years ago a gigantic palm ”flowering itself” to death has been discovered in Madagascar. This previously unknown genus is entirely new to science and has been named Tahina spectabilis. ‘Tahina’ is Malagasy for "to be protected". Scientists believe it grows up for about 50 years, then flowers once in a lifetime totally overstraining itself and then dies.

Radiated tortoise having had a feast on cactus fruit

Tortoises

Four of the five tortoise species in Madagascar are endemic and on the verge of extinction. The radiated tortoise and ploughshare tortoise are much sought on Asian pet markets and therefore overexploited. The latter only exists in a National Park in the island’s South, less than 500 are left in the wild.
The radiated tortoise of Madagascar (or “Sokake” in Malagasy) is one of the most attractive of all the tortoises. The carapace is marked by brilliant yellow lines radiating from the centre of each plate. In addition to illegal pet trade, these striking tortoises also suffer from habitat destruction and are captured for food in some areas.

Baobab tree (<i>Adansonia grandidieri</i>) at sunset, Madagascar. The project covers both moist and dry forests.

Baobabs

The legend says that the gods became jealous of those giants’ majesty and, therefore, turned them up-side-down to humiliate them. But even reversed, the Baobabs have kept their charm and dignity. Adapted to aridity they can grow for 1000 years and survive three years without any drop of water. Their size (up to 30 meters!) and their age gives them a mysterious and mythic touch.
Of the eight species of baobabs in the world, seven are unique to Madagascar. Its fruits are being used to cure diarrhoea, pox, measles and scurvy. Its poriferous trunk acts like a water reservoir. In droughts, people cut the baobab’s trunk to get access to that stored water. In some areas, Baobabs are considered being endangered.

Chameleons

About 50% of the World’s 150 species of chameleons can be found in Madagascar – and only there! Some species can change color as a way to communicate. A male ready to mate can, therefore, turn red to show its state. Camouflage is –contrary to a popular belief- -, not the main purpose of this change of color.
With their eyes moving independantly, chameleons are said to be able to look into the future and the past at the same time. The genus Brookesia is endemic to Madagascar and is the world’s smallest chameleons.

		Fossa
			
		The fossa is a mammal endemic to Madagascar and related to the Mongoose. It is the islands largest mammalian carnivore and hunts prey from fish to birds and – of course – lemurs. Usually individual hunters, they can be seen in groups during breeding season. One fossa chases a lemur from tree to tree while the other one catches it when it comes down. The IUCN classified the fossa also as vulnerable, Less than 2500 individuals remain in the wild.

More information

Reef Doctors in Toliara

Toliara Barrier Reef

The true Barrier reef of Toliara is 27km long and 3km wide. Overall the reef system from Toliara to Morombe creates 400km of almost continuing shallow water reef. It is one of the most extensive systems in the Western Indian Ocean region including barrier and fringing reefs which are inhabited by diverse species.
Though these reef systems are extensive, they are under enormous pressure from human and natural factors such as overfishing and sedimentation.

Malagasy celebration, Analila, Madagascar

People / Culture

Madagascar was populated very late. It is believed that the coast was colonized about 2000 years ago by people from east Africa while at about the same time Austronesian settlers started to populate the central highlands. The difference in ethnic origins remains somewhat evident between the highland and coastal regions.
The different ethnic groups and their culture vary quite a bit: agricultural, hunting, or fishing practices; music; hair and clothing styles; and local customs or taboos (known as 'fady').
Rice is the Malagasy people's main dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is served with all kinds of meat, vegetables and soups.
A very typical Malagasy custom is the burial of their dead. Families have their own tombstones, often spacious and decorated, where they burry all family members.

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