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Isalo National Park is a
National Park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...
in the
Ihorombe Ihorombe is a region in Madagascar. It borders Haute Matsiatra region in north, Atsimo-Atsinanana in east, Anosy in south and Atsimo-Andrefana in west. The capital is Ihosy and the population was 418,520 in 2018. The area of Ihorombe is and ...
Region of
Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, in the southwestern corner of the Province of Fianarantsoa. The closest town is
Ranohira Ranohira is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 16,041 in 2018 Primary and junior level secondary education are available in town. It is a ...
, and the closest cities are
Toliara Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo. The current spelling of the name was adopted ...
and
Ihosy Ihosy is a city (commune urbaine) with 283,047 inhabitants (2015) in Ihorombe Region in central south Madagascar. Ihosy is the capital of Ihorombe Region, as well as of the district of Ihosy. Geography Ihosy is an important crosspoint for ...
. It is a sandstone landscape that has been dissected by wind and water erosion into rocky outcrops, plateaus, extensive plains and up to deep canyons. There are permanent rivers and streams as well as many seasonal watercourses. Elevation varies between .


History and significance

Isalo National Park was created in 1962 and has been administered by the Madagascar National Parks authority since 1997. The
Bara people The Bara people are a Malagasy ethnic group living in the southern part of the central plateaus of Madagascar, in the Toliara Province, concentrated around their historic capital at Ihosy. The Bara are the largest of the island's zebu-herding ...
have traditionally inhabited this area, a nomadic people subsisting on cattle (
zebu The zebu (; ''Bos indicus'' or ''Bos taurus indicus''), sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in the Indian sub-continent. Zebu are characterised by a fatty ...
) farming. There are burial sites of the Bara people and some older burial sites of the
Sakalava The Sakalava are an ethnic group of Madagascar. They are found on the western and northwest region of the island, in a band along the coast. The Sakalava are one of the smaller ethnic groups, constituting about 6.2 percent of the total populatio ...
. Isalo is primarily within the dry deciduous forests ecoregion, an ecoregion in which natural vegetation has been reduced by almost 40% of its original extent. It also includes landscapes considered part of the subhumid forests ecoregion, an ecoregion that is home to numerous endemic species and has been given Critical/Endangered status because only small areas of native habitat remain and most of those are highly fragmented. The woodlands of Isalo are dominated by the endemic tree tapia (''
Uapaca bojeri ''Uapaca bojeri'', or tapia ( Malagasy pronunciation: ''ta-pee''), is a tree species endemic to Madagascar. A characteristic element of the Madagascan flora, it occurs in the central highlands, where it dominates a type of sclerophyllous fores ...
''). This is a woodland type that is restricted in distribution; found only in Madagascar's central highlands. Some of the largest intact areas of tapia woodlands are found in Isalo. There are numerous narrowly endemic plant species found here, including 13 species that have been found only in Isalo and another 35 that are rare species, known from 2-5 sites. Not only is Sarcolaenaceae a plant family found only in Madagascar, two species within it (''Sarcolaena isaloensis'' and S''chizolaena isaloensis'') have only been found in Isalo NP. There are also unusual lichens here, including the type specimen and only known location for the narrowly endemic ''Isalonactis madagascariensis''.


Climate

Isalo National Park is in the arid western part of Madagascar, within the western dry deciduous forest bioclimatic zone. The area has a hot, dry climate with two seasons; a cooler-drier season and a warmer-wetter season. Each lasts from 5–7 months. Temperatures range between , the average annual temperature is and the average rainfall is (at Ranohira). Precipitation is lowest in June, averaging . December thru February are typically the wettest months. Rainfall in January averages , but the 2018/2019 wet season saw heavy rainfall, with of rain falling in January alone.


Geology

Located in the southern part of the
Morondava Basin Morondava Basin is one of the major sedimentary basins of Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island c ...
, the sedimentary Isalo Group is the main geological formation of the park, forming the Isalo Massif. The group is up to 6,000m thick, of Triassic to early Jurassic origin and made up of coarse-grained sandstone deposited by braided streams. The Isalo Massif has been eroded by wind and water, resulting in deep canyons, sandstone domes, flat-topped mountains and "runiform" mountains - steep sided outcrops that have been dissected into odd-shapes. These odd shapes are referred to as "runiforme", based on the French word for "carved".


Tourism

A local guide is required for visitors entering the park, and guides and porters can be hired in Ranohira. Treks in the park can last from several hours to a week or longer. The park includes several natural swimming pools which are popular among tourists, and are excellent sites to see the Benson's Rock Thrush. The main threat to this park comes from illegal wildfires set in the park. The wildfires limit the extent of forest and maximize grasslands used by cattle.


Fauna

Fourteen species of
mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
s are reported for Isalo NP, including several different species of
lemur Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are Strepsirrhini, wet-nosed primates of the Superfamily (biology), superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 Family (biology), families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 exist ...
. Over 100 species of bird have been found here, including Benson's rock thrush (''Monticola sharpei bensoni''), the
knob-billed duck The knob-billed duck (''Sarkidiornis melanotos''), or African comb duck, is a duck found in tropical wetlands in Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and the Indian Subcontinent from northern India to Laos and extreme southern China. Most taxonomic au ...
(''Sarkidiornis melanotos'') and the
Madagascar ibis The Madagascar ibis (''Lophotibis cristata''), also known as the Madagascar crested ibis, white-winged ibis or crested wood ibis, is a medium-sized (approximately 50 cm long), brown- plumaged ibis. It has bare red orbital skin, yellow bill, ...
(''Lophotibis cristata''). Twenty four amphibians and 47 reptiles have been documented in Isalo National Park, including a number of new “candidate” species. Species endemic to the Isalo area include four amphibians ('' Gephyromantis azzurrae'', '' Mantella expectata'', '' Mantidactylus noralottae'', and the Malagasy rainbow frog (''Scaphiophryne gottlebei'') and one reptile species (''
Trachylepis ''Trachylepis'' is a skink genus in the subfamily Mabuyinae found mainly in Africa. Its members were formerly included in the "wastebin taxon" ''Mabuya'', and for some time in '' Euprepis''. As defined today, ''Trachylepis'' contains the clade ...
nancycoutuae''). Notable examples include the
Madagascar ground boa ''Acrantophis madagascariensis'' is a species of boid snake in the subfamily Sanziniinae that is endemic to the island of Madagascar. Its common names include Malagasy ground boa and Madagascar boa. Description This species is included in the ...
(''Acrantophis madagascariensis''), Dumeril's boa (''Acrantophis dumerili'') and the white-lipped bright-eyed frog (''Boophis albilabris'').


Flora

Botanical inventory of the Isalo region began with collections by Perrier de la Bâthie in 1910. Only 10 of the over 400 species that have been documented in Isalo are non-native species. Most (over 70%) are vascular plants that are endemic to Madagascar. There are 13 species that have been found only in Isalo and another 35 are rare species, known from 2-5 sites. The following table lists the species known only from Isalo NP. Some entire families of plants are endemic to Madagascar. Examples of three of these families can be found in Isalo; Asteropeiaceae, Sarcolaenaceae and Sphaerosepalaceae. Not only is Sarcolaenaceae a plant family found only in Madagascar, two species within it (''Sarcolaena isaloensis'' and S''chizolaena isaloensis'') have only been found in Isalo NP.


Lichens

The lichens of Madagascar are poorly known, but over 500 species have been documented. Only about 20 species are found in the dry areas of the country. Several of these have been documented in the Isalo area, including the type specimen and only known location for the narrowly endemic ''Isalonactis madagascariensis''.


Vegetation

Isalo is primarily within the dry deciduous forests ecoregion, an ecoregion in which natural vegetation has been reduced by almost 40% of its original extent. It also includes isolated forest patches classified as part of the subhumid forests ecoregion, an ecoregion that is home to numerous endemic species and has been given Critical/Endangered status because only small areas of native habitat remain and most of those are highly fragmented. Six main habitats have been described in Isalo NP.


1. Sclerophylous woodlands

The sclerophyllous (hard-leafed, drought adapted) woodlands of Isalo are dominated by the endemic tree tapia (''
Uapaca bojeri ''Uapaca bojeri'', or tapia ( Malagasy pronunciation: ''ta-pee''), is a tree species endemic to Madagascar. A characteristic element of the Madagascan flora, it occurs in the central highlands, where it dominates a type of sclerophyllous fores ...
''). This is a woodland type that is restricted in distribution; found only in Madagascar's central highlands. Some of the largest intact areas of tapia woodlands are found in Isalo. These woodlands are adapted to regular burning and are characterized by a relatively open canopy dominated primarily by tapia, but other trees may include members of the family
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, e ...
or the endemic family
Sarcolaenaceae The Sarcolaenaceae are a family of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar. The family includes 79 species of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs in ten genera. Recent DNA studies indicate that the Sarcolaenaceae are a sibling taxon to the family ...
. The main components of the shrub layer are made up of species from the families Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, and Leguminosae, but herbs and grasses form the main understory. Endemic
Kalanchoe ''Kalanchoe'' , also written ''Kalanchöe'' or ''Kalanchoë'', is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, mainly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. A ''Kalanchoe'' species was one ...
and
Aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022 The most wid ...
species grow in this habitat.


2. Evergreen humid forest

These forests are associated with moist habitats such as near streams or in the deep ravines. Native forests found in deep canyons have palm species ('' Ravenea'' and ''
Dypsis ''Dypsis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae. They are slender, evergreen palms with yellow flowers carried in panicles amongst the pinnate leaves. Many ''Dypsis'' species have aerial branching (above the main trunk), a rare ...
'' species), ''
Breonadia salicina ''Breonadia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It was described by in 1975. The genus contains only one species, viz. ''Breonadia salicina'', which is found in tropical and southern Africa from Mali and Benin east ...
'', ''
Weinmannia ''Weinmannia'' is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Cunoniaceae. It is the largest genus of the family with about 150 species. It is also the most widespread genus, occurring in Central and South America including the Caribbean, Madagasc ...
'' sp., ''
Voacanga ''Voacanga'' is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae found in Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 13 species:Search for "Voacanga", ;Species # '' Voacanga africana ...
'' sp. and '' Dracaena'' sp. Some of these moist habitats however are now dominated by introduced species such as ''
Melia azedarach ''Melia azedarach'', commonly known as the chinaberry tree, pride of India, bead-tree, Cape lilac, syringa berrytree, Persian lilac, Indian lilac, or white cedar, is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native ...
'', ''
Mangifera indica ''Mangifera indica'', commonly known as mango, is a species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae. It is a large fruit tree, capable of growing to a height of . There are two distinct genetic populations in modern mangoesthe "Indian type ...
'' or ''
Eugenia ''Eugenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It has a worldwide, although highly uneven, distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. The bulk of the approximately 1,100 species occur in the New World tropics, ...
'' sp.


3. Pandanus thickets

Pandanus thickets, dominated by ''
Pandanus ''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with some 750 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. The greatest number of species are found in Madagascar and Malaysia. Common names ...
pulcher'' occur associated with shallower valleys or small stream are where the forest is degraded and frequently burned.


4. Dry (xerophytic) vegetation

This habitat is associated with dry rocky areas, including steep slopes and ridges. Although vegetation is sparse, a number of endemic species are found in these habitats, including '' Xerophyta'' sp., elephant's foot (''
Pachypodium rosulatum ''Pachypodium rosulatum'', common name elephant's foot plant, belongs to the family Apocynaceae. Description ''Pachypodium rosulatum'' is a shrubby perennial caudiciform plant with a bottle-shaped trunk, brownish silver and almost spineless, ab ...
'' var. ''gracilius'') and the narrow endemic ''Aloe isaloensis''.


5. Secondary shrub communities

Secondary shrub communities are found where the slopes of the Isalo Massif contact fields or pastures. The most common species in these communities are listed as: ''
Mimosa ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 590 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word (''mimos''), an "actor" or "mime", and the feminine suffix -''osa'', "resembl ...
latispinosa,'' ''
Vangueria madagascariensis ''Vangueria madagascariensis'', commonly known by the names Spanish-tamarind, tamarind-of-the-Indies, or voa vanga, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae native to the African continent having edible fruit. It is the type specie ...
'', ''
Maesa lanceolata ''Maesa lanceolata'', the false assegai, is a tree species that is widespread in the Afrotropics, including Madagascar. It occurs from the southern Arabian Peninsula, southwards to the Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of ...
'', ''
Aphloia ''Aphloia'' is a genus of flowering plants that contains a single species, ''Aphloia theiformis'', the sole species of the monogeneric family Aphloiaceae. It is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees occurring in East Africa, Madagas ...
theaeformis'', ''
Crotalaria ''Crotalaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (subfamily Faboideae) commonly known as rattlepods. The genus includes over 700 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs. Africa is the continent with the majority of ''Crotalari ...
'' sp., and ''
Tamarindus indica Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae. ...
''.


6. Grasslands

Native grasslands, probably once restricted to small patches, are thought to have expanded as a result of intensive burning, primarily to facilitate cattle grazing. Grasslands (also called pseudo-steppes) are now widespread in Isalo, dominated by ''Aristida similis'' and ''
Aristida rufescens ''Aristida rufescens'' is a grass species native to Madagascar and to Mayotte in the Comoros archipelago. It was described by German agrostologist Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in 1854. The species is a perennial bunch grass with short rhizomes. I ...
'' as well as ''
Trachypogon ''Trachypogon'' is a small genus of African and Latin American plants in the grass family. Crinkleawn grass is a common name for plants in this genus. ; Species * '' Trachypogon chevalieri'' (Stapf) Jacq.-Fél. - western + central Africa * '' T ...
'' sp. or '' Heteropogon'' sp. Frequent burning maintains the grasslands and prevents tree regrowth.


Gallery

File:Sign for Isalo National Park.jpg, Sign for Isalo National Park File:Lemurien10-2006.JPG, Verreaux's sifaka at Isalo National Park File:Eulemur rufifrons, Isalo National Park 2007-03-01.jpg, Red-fronted brown lemur at Isalo National Park Red-fronted_brown_lemur_6.JPG, Red-fronted brown lemur showing fangs Brown lemur Isalo.JPG, Red-fronted brown lemur Lemur Catta02.jpg, ''
Lemur catta The ring-tailed lemur (''Lemur catta'') is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families, and is the only member of the ''Lemur'' ge ...
'' Pachypodium Rosulatum Gracilius 01.jpg, '' Pachypodium rosulatum gracilius'' Elephants foot plant 1.JPG, Elephants foot plant at Isalo National Park Elephants foot plant 2.JPG, Elephants foot flower at Isalo National Park Natural Swiming Pool, Isalo National Park (3955536504).jpg, Waterfall and ''Piscine Naturelle'' Canyon des Makis & Canyon des Rats - Isalo-Gebirge.jpg, Canyon des Makis Isalo National Park 02.jpg, Lush and arid landscape IsaloRock.jpg, Eroded Rock formations at Isalo National Park Isalo National Park 05.jpg, Standing Stones at Isalo National Park Lichens3 Isalo.jpg, lichens growing on the rocks at Isalo Lichens4 Isalo.jpg, lichens growing on the rocks at Isalo National Park, Madagascar including Dermatiscum thunbergii


See also

*
List of national parks of Madagascar This list of national parks of Madagascar includes all officially recognized protected areas as of 2015. The protected areas network of Madagascar is managed by the Madagascar National Parks Association (PNM-ANGAP). The network includes three typ ...


References


External links


Official website (in French)


{{Authority control National parks of Madagascar Ihorombe Protected areas established in 1999 1999 establishments in Madagascar Madagascar dry deciduous forests Madagascar subhumid forests Important Bird Areas of Madagascar