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Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park
''Zombitse-Vohibasia'' is a national park in the Atsimo-Andrefana region of south-west Madagascar. It is north-east of the town of Toliara, the site of the nearest airport, and the Welcome Office is at Sakaraha from the park entrance. The park covers a surface of on three sites; the forest of Zombitse () and the sites of Isoky Vohimena () and Vohibasia (). The Bara people and Mahafaly people are the main ethnic groups in the area. History and significance The park is made up of three separate sections. The Zombitse forest was first set aside as a protected area in 1962, the Vohibasia and Isoky-Vohimena forests were added in 1997 and the full site formally established as a National Park in 2002. The national park falls within the ecoregion classified as Madagascar succulent woodlands, an ecoregion that is known for high local endemicity and that is transitional between the spiny thicket and the dry deciduous woodland ecoregions. The ecoregion is described as a mosaic of succ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sakaraha
Sakaraha is a town and municipality in Atsimo-Andrefana Region, south-western Madagascar. It has a population of 31,183 in 2018. Geography Sakaraha is situated along Route nationale 7 (Madagascar), route nationale No. 7 (Tuléar-Fianarantsoa) at 134 km from Tuléar, 64 km from Andranovory and 84 km from Ilakaka. It is situated at the Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. Economy Mining: there are sapphires found in the town of Sakaraha. Natural gas was discovered near Sakaraha by Madagascar Southern Petroleum Company (MSCP) in 2011. There are also some oil deposits near Sakaraha but there is no commercial exploration. On 31 January 2007, Saudi terrorist Mohammed Jamal Khalifa was murdered by 25 to 30 armed men while visiting a gemstone mine he owned in Sakamilko, near the town of Sakaraha. He had recently called in local police to evict people who had been working the gem mine in his absence. Though all his belongings had been stolen there is some conjecture that the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Route Nationale 7 (Madagascar)
''Route nationale 7 '' (''RN7'') is a primary highway in Madagascar running 980km from the capital Antananarivo to Tulear at the south-west coast of the country. It crosses the regions of Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, Amoron'i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe, and Atsimo-Andrefana. This is one of the most important roads of the country and relatively well maintained. Selected locations on route (north to south) *Antananarivo *junction with RN43 * Ambatolampy (69 km) *Antsirabe (170 km) - (junction with RN34 to Miandrivazo and Malaimbandy) * Ambositra - (junction with RN35 to Malaimbandy and Morondava) *Ambohimahasoa - (junction with RN25 to Mananjary) *Fianarantsoa (412 km) - ( Ranomafana National Park) *Ambalavao (462 km) - ( Andringitra National Park) *Anja Community Reserve *Zazafotsy (586 km) *Ihosy - (604 km) (junction with RN27 to Farafangana) *Ihosy - (junction with RN13 to Betroka and Tolanaro (Fort-Dauphin) * Caves of Andranomilitry - (10 km from Ihosy) *R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coquerel's Giant Mouse Lemur
Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (''Mirza coquereli''), also known as Coquerel's dwarf lemur or the southern giant mouse lemur, is a small nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar. This species can be found in parts of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. Behaviour This lemur is active throughout the year; unlike mouse lemurs (''Microcebus''), it does not hibernate. It feeds on the larvae of hemiptera (the true bugs) to sustain itself. It is an arboreal species, and feeds on fruit, flowers, and small animals such as insects and spiders. Coquerel's giant mouse lemur is heavily preyed upon by owls. Taxonomy Coquerel's giant mouse lemur was named after the French entomologist Charles Coquerel Jean Charles Coquerel (2 December 1822 – 12 April 1867) was a French navy surgeon, algologist, and entomologist. Coquerel collected insects in Madagascar and neighbouring islands. A number of these were described after his death by Léon Fairm .... It was the only member of the genus '' Mirza' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur (''Cheirogaleus medius''), also known as the lesser dwarf lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, or spiny forest dwarf lemur, is endemic to Madagascar. Hibernation Recent research has shown that ''C. medius'' hibernates (or aestivates), even though in the tropical winter of Madagascar, temperatures remain high. It is the first tropical mammal and only primate in which hibernation has been demonstrated. However, the Malagasy winter is dry, and it appears that the lemur is avoiding the drought. It can hibernate for seven months. Unlike animals that hibernate in temperate regions, the lemur does not control its body temperature while hibernating, and if the tree hole in which it is sleeping is not well insulated, its body temperature fluctuates in accordance with the outside temperature. During torpor, this lemur has been found to periodically enter REM sleep Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep or REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and bir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gray Mouse Lemur
The gray mouse lemur (''Microcebus murinus''), grey mouse lemur or lesser mouse lemur, is a small lemur, a type of strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing , it is the largest of the mouse lemurs (genus ''Microcebus''), a group that includes the smallest primates in the world. The species is named for its mouse-like size and coloration and is known locally (in Malagasy) as ''tsidy'', ''koitsiky'', ''titilivaha'', ''pondiky'', and ''vakiandry''. The gray mouse lemur and all other mouse lemurs are considered cryptic species, as they are nearly indistinguishable from each other by appearance. For this reason, the gray mouse lemur was considered the only mouse lemur species for decades until more recent studies began to distinguish between the species. Like all mouse lemurs, this species is nocturnal and arboreal. It is very active, and though it forages alone, groups of males and females form sleeping groups and share tree holes during the day ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red-fronted Lemur
The red-fronted lemur (''Eulemur rufifrons''), also known as the red-fronted brown lemur or southern red-fronted brown lemur, is a species of lemur from Madagascar. Until 2001, it was considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur, ''E. fulvus''. In 2001, ''E. fulvus'' was split into several separate species, including ''Eulemur rufus'', in which this species was included. In 2008, ''E. rufus'' was split into two species, the red lemur (''E. rufus'') and the red-fronted lemur (''E. rufifrons''). ''E. rufus'' covers the population on the west coast north of the Tsiribihina River and ''E. rufifrons'' covers the population on the west coast south of the Tsiribihina River and the population in eastern Madagascar. The species split was based on genetic and morphological evidence. Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates that ''E. rufifrons'' may be more closely related to the common brown lemur (''E. fulvus''), white-headed lemur (''E. albifrons'') and Sanford's brown lemur (' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Verreaux's Sifaka
Verreaux's sifaka (''Propithecus verreauxi''), or the white sifaka, is a medium-sized primate in one of the lemur families, the Indriidae. It lives in Madagascar and can be found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar and the spiny thickets of the south. Its fur is thick and silky and generally white with brown on the sides, top of the head, and on the arms. Like all sifakas, it has a long tail that it uses as a balance when leaping from tree to tree. However, its body is so highly adapted to an arboreal existence, on the ground its only means of locomotion is hopping. The species lives in small troops which forage for food. Anatomy In adulthood, the full head and body length is between . The tail of a fully grown Verreaux's sifaka grows to be between long. In weight, adult females reach on average, and adult males . Verreaux's sifaka has a relatively low, flat braincase. The face is broader than that of most other indriid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ring-tailed Lemur
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'' genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar and endangered. Known locally in Malagasy as ' (, spelled ' in French) or ', it inhabits gallery forests to spiny scrub in the southern regions of the island. It is omnivorous and the most terrestrial of extant lemurs. The animal is diurnal, being active exclusively in daylight hours. The ring-tailed lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together. The ring-tailed lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun. Like other lemurs, this species relies strongly on its sen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable". Over the past decades, IUCN has widened its focus beyond conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related to sustainable development in its projects. IUCN does not itself aim to mobilize the public in support of nature conservation. It tries to influence the actions of governments, business and other stakeholders by providing information and advice and through building partnerships. The organization is best known to the wider p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giant Coua Zombitse-Vohibasia
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: '' gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 from Robert of Gloucester's chronicle. It is derived from the '' Gigantes'' ( grc-gre, Γίγαντες) of Greek mythology. Fairy tales such as ''Jack the Giant Killer'' have formed the modern perception of giants as dimwitted ogres, sometimes said to eat humans, while other giants tend to eat the livestock. The antagonist in ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' is often described as a giant. In some more recent portrayals, like those of Jonathan Swift and Roald Dahl, some giants are both intelligent and friendly. Literary and cultural analysis Giants appear in the folklore of cultures worldwide as they represent a relatively simple concept. Representing the human body enlarged to the point of being monstrous, giants evoke terror and remind humans ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
IUCN Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. It uses a set of precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. With its strong scientific base, the IUCN Red List is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. A series of Regional Red Lists are produced by countries or organizations, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit. The aim of the IUCN Red List is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to reduce species extinction. According to IUCN the formally stated goals of the Red List are to provide ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vulnerable Species
A vulnerable species is a species which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being threatened with extinction unless the circumstances that are threatening its survival and reproduction improve. Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction of the species' home. Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened. Some species listed as "vulnerable" may be common in captivity, an example being the military macaw. There are currently 5196 animals and 6789 plants classified as Vulnerable, compared with 1998 levels of 2815 and 3222, respectively. Practices such as cryoconservation of animal genetic resources have been enforced in efforts to conserve vulnerable breeds of livestock specifically. Criteria The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses several criteria to enter species in this category. A taxon In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
