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MadagascarThe island of Madagascar was formed more than 160 million years ago when the early continents started to drift apart. Madagascar's long isolation from the continent has led to the development of unique flora and fauna. Most of its animal and plant species exist only on the island of Madagascar and nowhere else. 92 % of the flowering plants and 98 % of the palm trees are native to the island. About 95 % of the reptile species are presumably endemic. There are about 259 species of birds native to Madagascar and 204 of them live there permanently. The first people came to Madagascar not long ago - only about 2000 years. Approximately 15 million Malagasy live on the island today and it is assumed that in 2025 there will be about 28 million Malagasy.The unique habitats like the Madagascar dry deciduous forests, also called thorn forests, and the rainforests have already been reduced to only about 4 % of the source forest. This reduction is caused by human interference such as slash-and-burn activity. This method is used to create short-term cultivation and pasture land. Landau Zoo supports the "Programme Voronosey" in Northwestern Madagascar which is dedicated to the protection of the endemic Blue-eyed ibis (Threskiornis bernieri). Some important mangrove forests and breeding islands, which are also home to an large number of other waterbirds and further species, have been put under protection in cooperation with local communities. This projects is further supported by Vogelpark Walsrode and further German zoos, the Friends of Zoo Landau and the German and French conservation NGOs "Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations, ZGAP & CEPA". It is recognized as an official project of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, WAZA. [Back to Conservation] |
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