Humblot's Heron

Madagascar Heron ( Ardea humbloti )

The Madagascar Heron ( Ardea humbloti ) is a wading bird of the heron family.

Features

The Madagascar heron is quite a handsome wader and reaches a length of about 90 cm. Its plumage is mostly slate gray.

Occurrence

It breeds only on Madagascar, and mainly in the north and west of the island as well as on the shores of Lac Alaotra. He will also occasionally observed in the Comoros, Mayotte and the Aldabra Atoll. Its habitat is the local wetlands and mangroves.

Others

The species is endangered, the population is estimated at only 1,000 to 3,000 animals. The reason for this is partly in the hunting by the locals and the other in the destruction of its habitat through deforestation and drainage. It takes its scientific name in honor of Léon Humblot, who was from 1884 to 1897 governor of the Comoros.