Madagascar: What Is All The Fuss About?

Saturday 6 February

Theatre 2
Time: 5.00pm
Title: Madagascar: What Is All The Fuss About?
Speaker: Nicci Lenferna
Company: Pulse Africa

As the fourth largest island in the world, covering an area of only 587,000 square kilometres, Madagascar boasts an environmental diversity that equals that of an entire continent.

There are over 200,000 species of plant in Madagascar of which about 80% are endemic. There are one hundred and seventy palm species, seven baobab species and more than a thousand orchids.

There are in the region of three hundred and sixty species of reptiles of which ninety 92% are endemic. There are seventy odd gecko species, three hundred and fifty frog species and eighty species of Malagasy Chameleons which range from the smallest to the largest in the world.

There are only five major mammal groups in Madagascar but of these 80% are endemic to the island. These include close on a thousand species of lemur, tenrecs, bats, rodents and mongoose like carnivores.

There are only two hundred and eight three bird species but of these one hundred and nine are endemic.

There are the humpback whales who gather each year on the east coast to give birth to their calves.

There are over 100,000 species of invertebrates including beetles, spiders, scorpions, a hundred species of butterfly, crabs, worms, leeches, one hundred and sixty species of millipedes, over six hundred and eight five different snails, a thousand ants, one thousand eight hundred flies and many more.

It is a land rich in cultural diversity. With twenty two different clans based on old Kingdoms rather than ethnic groupings, the tapestry of beliefs and customs provides a fascinating backdrop to a warm and welcoming people.

And we are yet to discuss the four thousand eight hundred kilometres of coastline, the pristine white beaches, private coves, dazzling corals and sun drenched beach resorts.

Now, that’s what all the fuss is about!

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