Madagascar & the Mascarenes
We recognise the high levels of endemism and biological richness exclusive to Madagascar and the Mascarenes, islands where habitat loss jeopardises the future of the biodiversity that is found here.
• Across the region, forest is continuously destroyed for industry and agriculture.
• Alternative and sustainable livelihood options are urgently needed to mitigate the pressure on the forests as a resource for humans.
• Fruit bats are seeing their habitat destroyed on Mauritius and the Rodrigues, and they are largely seen as a nuisance by people.
Our projects here support the conservation of non-charismatic species where Chester Zoo is uniquely placed, through organisational expertise and experience; conservation networks and opportunities, to significantly contribute towards the conservation of these species.
A biodiverse melting pot
Located in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is famous for its unique range of wildlife. Over 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife isn’t found anywhere else in the world. From lush forests to arid deserts, a fascinating range of ecosystems are spread across this 228,000 square mile island.
The Indian ocean’s volcanic Mascarene islands are thriving with human communities and vibrant wildlife, some of which are entirely unique to the Mascarenes. However, an increase in human activity over the years has brought complex challenges to the island’s wildlife, as the rich biodiversity becomes increasingly threatened by a human dominated landscape.
In the Malagasy forests of Mangabe, we are building an inventory of the biodiversity through staff exchanges, expeditions and capacity building. Our conservation activity includes golden mantella frog monitoring through new techniques which have been developed in the zoo and are now implemented in the wild. We are also working with local communities to establish a community-led, sustainable management plan for Mangabe, enabling them to patrol the protected area and prevent illegal gold mining and logging.
Our projects
Our project teams have been working closely with local communities to preserve Madagascar’s treasure trove of wild species. Since 2015 we’ve engaged with over 3,000 local conservationists in the protected ‘Mangabe’ area of Madagascar.
