Madagascar's Most Famous Residents

Its wealth of diverse and unique wildlife is one of the main reasons that visitors flock to Madagascar. Wildlife holidays on the African island are at or near the top of 'must see' lists for anyone passionate about the flora and fauna that we share the planet with. The history of the island has plenty to do with this.

When the sprawling, prehistoric super-continent of Gondwanaland began to break up, what is now known as Madagasikara to its residents was left alone in the sea, sealing the island's isolation. This meant that prehistoric plants and animals developed along their own path with little outside interference on isolated Madagascar. Wildlife holidays to the island are the best way to catch a glimpse of its unique creatures, including the island's most famous residents, the Lemurs.

Intrepid Lemurs

Although a type of primate that has evolved in the glorious isolation of the island, the Lemur is a later arrival. The island broke away from the rest of the land around 160 million years ago, but zoologists believe that Lemurs first appeared in continental Africa around 62 million years ago. The most popular hypothesis regarding how the animals made it to the island remains biological dispersion due to random rafting events; essentially this means that the animals were carried on matted reeds swept on ocean currents all the way to Madagascar. Wildlife holidays take a special interest in these creatures now that they no longer exist anywhere else on the planet.

Finding Lemurs Today

The creatures can be found in various regions around Madagascar. Wildlife holiday operators are probably the best people to enlist the help of, as they will have close contact with the local populations and know the very best places for spotting these incredible animals. Although the Lemurs are found in numerous places around the island, the local eco-system is carefully protected, and it is strongly discouraged for tourists to head off on their own in search of the famous local wildlife.

A Lemur for Every Occasion

Having had the run of the land to themselves for so many years, Lemurs have spread across the island filling the landscape in every available niche with cheerful abandon. They range in size from the large Indri (which can reach nearly 120 cm when fully stretched out), to the tiny Mouse Lemurs. Lemur-watching excursions take place in the island's top reserves, including Ranomafana, Andasibe and the spiny forests around Ifaty. One of the popular experiences for those visiting the Lemur populations is the famous 'dawn chorus' from the Indri population in Perinet, often described as 'whale-song in the trees'.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for a Madagascar wildlife holiday, Naturetrek specialise in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek bring over 25 years of experience to a Madagascar wildlife holiday and other spectacular regions on Earth.

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Madagascar's Fascinating Fosa!

There are plenty of creatures to see on your Madagascar wildlife holiday - but among the most interesting is the Fossa. This unique creature is cat-like, carnivorous, and completely unique to Madagascar, making it a fascinating sight to observe while you're exploring the island. The scientific classification of this animal has been somewhat controversial - despite appearing very similar to cats, the Fosa's other traits suggest a heritage more closely shared with the mongoose family. The largest mammalian carnivore on the island, the Fossa's population is widespread, and can be seen in many of the island's forested regions. To learn a little more about this curious creature, read on!

Behaviour

The Fosa is active both during the day and night, increasing your chances of spotting one of these predators no matter what kind of tour you undertake on your Madagascar wildlife holidays. The species is considered a solitary one; animals are often found alone, with the territories of males and females remaining separate for the most part. The animal's population density is also quite low across Madagascar - for example, in Kirindy Forest where the Fosa is thought to be common, it's estimated that there's one Fossa for every four square kilometres of terrain, illustrating the point.

Diet and Feeding

As the largest predator you're likely to see on your Madagascar wildlife holiday, the Fosa is nevertheless very picky about its food! It's the only predator on Madagascar capable of preying on the island's indigenous lemur. Lemurs comprise about 50% of the animal's diet. The Fosa often hunts for its food individually, although, during the animal's mating season, larger hunting parties might be spotted as they seek to impress a potential partner! The Fossa has also been known to choose more domestic prey when the opportunity arises, such as goats and chickens. Predatory Fosa who have targeted smaller domestic animals are in part responsible for the species' feared reputation on the island.

Arboreal Activities

One characteristic of the Fosa that often impresses people on their Madagascar wildlife holidays is its penchant for trees. With flexible ankles and semi-retractable claws, it is able to climb up and down trees head-first and launch itself from branch to branch and tree to tree safely. These assets also come in useful while hunting food - they have been observed chasing Lemurs from tree to tree, trying to force them down to the ground where the swift Fosa will be able to catch them easily.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for a Madagascar wildlife holiday, Naturetrek specialise in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek bring over 25 years of experience to a Madagascar wildlife holiday and other spectacular regions on Earth.

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