Masoala National Park

The Masoala National Park (French: Parc National de Masoala ) is located on the Peninsula Masoala in the northeast of Madagascar. The national park was established on 1 March 1997 and has an area of 2400 km ² on the paper and of 2096.325 km ² in reality, the largest national park in Madagascar. Together with other national parks of Madagascar ( Marojejy Zahamena, Ranomafana, Andringitra, Andohahela etc. ) Since 2007 he is part of the World Heritage of UNESCO.

The National Park protects the largest remaining contiguous rainforest of Madagascar, coastal forests, mangrove swamps and in three locations of the underwater world in the Indian Ocean. The National Park includes some coral reefs, three small parcels of land on the east coast and still almost untouched island of Nosy Mangabe in the Baie d' Antongil.

In the rainforest, there are ten different lemur species, including Red Varis, Masoala and Aye- Ayes Gabelstreifenmakis. In addition, numerous birds, chameleons and other reptiles, tenrecs, fish, frogs ( see for example: tomato frog), butterflies and invertebrates. The park is the last refuge of the critically endangered red ruffed lemurs. The also highly endangered Madagascar Snake hawk ( Eutriorchis astur ) even thought to be extinct before it was spotted late 1993 on Masoala. In the plot Andranoanala at Cap -Est, the carnivorous plant Nepenthes masoalensis is located.

The three Parcs marins (protected areas in the ocean ) Tampolo, Ambodilaitry and Ifaho are among the most interesting coral reefs of Madagascar. In addition to the coral and lots of fish here whales are protected. Hundreds of humpback whales draw from July to September along the coast. In the Bay of Antogil they procreate and give birth to a boy.

At the edge of the national park, there is a buffer zone in which the population is allowed to use the forest sustainably. Several foreign organizations also support projects that will enable the population to survive without destroying the forest.

Positive effects for the local population is hoped also from ecotourism. From the entrance fee, the tourists have to pay, half goes to development projects. In the National Park there are no overnight accommodations. Visitors therefore have to camp out or stay in small hotels in villages outside the protected area. Who would not want to explore on foot the National Park, is dependent on boats. Guides and porters are available.

For the local population, the National Park is in many ways but highly problematic, partly because of the Park means the loss of land for self-sufficiency.

The Zoo Zurich, a large part of its investment Madagascar is dedicated to the Masoala Hall, supported with regular contributions to the National Park and projects in the surrounding villages.

Large Madagascar Day Gecko ( Phelsuma grandis)

Tomato frog ( Dyscophus antongilii )

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