Ambatovaky Special Reserve is a tropical rainforest and
wildlife reserve in the north-east of
Madagascar (). It is designated by
Bird Life International as an
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations.
IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...
for the large number of
endemic species of birds.
Geography
This remote reserve ranges from the north-east coast of Madagascar to the
Analamerana
Analamerana Special Reserve (or Analamera) is a wildlife reserve in the north of Madagascar. The reserve was created in 1956 to protect its endemic plants and animals, such as the critically endangered Perrier's sifaka (''Propithecus perrieri ...
karstic plateau with elevations to in the
Soanierana Ivongo District,
Analanjirofo region. It is between the
Marimbona river, which forms the southern border, and
Simianona river which forms the northern border. The reserve headquarters are in
Soanierana Ivongo and the park is only accessible by canoe along the Marimbona River.
Flora and fauna
The reserve is mainly covered by dense deciduous dry forest and is the last place for the
critically endangered lemur,
Perrier's sifaka
Perrier's sifaka (''Propithecus perrieri'') is a lemur endemic to Madagascar. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of diademed sifaka
It has a very small range in northeastern Madagascar where its habitat is dry deciduous or semihumid ...
(''Propithecus perrieri''). There are five other species of lemurs found on the reserve. Four have been given the
conservation status of
endangered by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and one, the red-bellied lemur (''
Eulemur rubriventer'') is a
vulnerable species. The four endangered species are the aye-aye (''
Daubentonia madagascariensis''), Indri (''
Indri indri''), Diademed sifaka (''
Propithecus diadema'') and the black-and-white ruffed lemur (''
Varecia variegata variegata''). Two
carnivores the Malagasy or striped civet (''
Fossa fossana'') and the fossa (''
Cryptoprocta ferox'') are also vulnerable species. The above mammals are all endemic to Madagascar.
The white-breasted mesite
(''Mesitornis variegata'') is one of the fifty-five species of endemic birds found on the reserve, and is also one with a very restricted distribution, known from only six sites within the country. It is classified as vulnerable.
So far ninety-two species of birds have been recorded.
Other rare birds are
Van Dam's vanga
Van Dam's vanga (''Xenopirostris damii'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae.
It is endemic to Madagascar.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. Males may be identified by their black hood whereas females have only ...
and the
Madagascar pond heron.
There are also many amphibians, reptiles and insects. Two species of butterflies on the reserve are ''
Papilio mangoura
''Papilio mangoura'' is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: Républ ...
'' and ''
Amauris nossima
The Madagascan friar (''Amauris nossima'') is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is found on the Comoros, Madagascar and Mayotte
Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officia ...
''; both considered to be vulnerable species.
References
External links
Ambatovaky Parc administration
{{authority control
1956 establishments in Madagascar
Analanjirofo
Special reserves of Madagascar
Protected areas established in 1956
Madagascar subhumid forests
Important Bird Areas of Madagascar