615 new species discovered in Madagascar in 11 years – Many already Endangered

Durrell's Vontsira, a new carnivore discovered in Madagascar© Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

June 2011. - Scientists in Madagascar have discovered more than 615 species, including 41 mammals between 1999 and 2010 but many of the exciting and colourful creatures are already endangered. New finds since 1999 include 385 plants, 42 invertebrates, 17 fish, 69 amphibians, 61 reptiles and 41 mammals.

Madagascar's unique habitats are facing numerous threats, but deforestation is among the most serious, with experts saying that the island has already lost 90% of its original forest cover.

Treasure Island
Treasure Island: New biodiversity in Madagascar, a WWF report compiling discoveries made in one decade shows the immense diversity of the natural wealth on the world's fourth largest island, but offers one more dramatic reminder of the increasing threats to this fragile environment.

WWF Madagascar's Conservation Director Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana said "This report shows once again how unique and irreplaceable the different ecosystems in Madagascar hosting all these different species are. WWF works every day to establish a representative protected area network and to promote sustainable livelihood alternatives to allow people in Madagascar to live in harmony with the natural world surrounding them".

Endangered before discovered
Although just found, many of the species, including Berthe's Mouse Lemur, are already endangered due to rapidly progressing environmental degradation, driven mainly by deforestation.

Xavier Metz, a Frenchman who manages a cashew plantation nearby, and his family were walking in a remote area of north-western Madagascar when they stumbled across the giant palm and the huge pyramidal bunch of flowers sprouting out of the tip. They had never seen anything like it before and their photographs soon reached John Dransfield, co-author of the Palms of Madagascar and an Honorary Research Fellow of Kew Gardens in London, who was astonished when he saw material and images of the tree.

The magnificent Tahina Palm (Tahina spectabilis), a massive fan palm which flowers only once in a lifetime with a spectacular, giant inflorescence that forms from the centre of the crown, is undoubtedly among the most exciting scientific discoveries. After fruiting, the palm dies and collapses.

Berthe's Mouse Lemur
But for all those who know Madagascar thanks to its famous lemurs, one of the planet's most charismatic animals, the discovery of the Berthe's Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae) in 2000 was the most exciting news.

Weighing only 30 grams, the cute reddish-brown coloured creature resembling one of the characters of the blockbuster film Madagascar is not only the tiniest of the mouse lemurs but also the smallest primate in the world.

Paradise in danger
One of the greatest tropical wildernesses left on Earth and home to some of the most spectacular wildlife, the island is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 70% are found nowhere else on earth. The wildlife includes the aye-aye, radiated and spider tortoises, marine turtles, flying fox, fossa, tenrec, chameleons, crocodiles and many others.

But this biodiversity paradise is in danger with many species on the brink of extinction. As deforestation and habitat fragmentation continue, so do erosion and sedimentation of coral reefs, leaving communities more vulnerable than ever. Droughts force people to abandon their fields and move towards the ocean where they practice unsustainable fishing methods causing fish stocks to dwindle away even faster.

2009 coup - Disaster for diversity
In the aftermath of a coup in March 2009 and subsequent political turmoil, Madagascar's rainforests were pillaged for precious hardwoods, especially rosewood. Tens of thousands of hectares were affected, including some of the island's most biologically diverse national parks Marojejy, Masoala, Makira and Mananara.

These logging activities also resulted in the rise of commercial bush meat trade. Specialised restaurants in Madagascar's north sold lemur meat for as little as 3 Euro a plate. The political instability and increased crime rates, resulting in part increased poverty hurt the once flourishing tourism industry, one of very few livelihood options for people around national parks.

New discoveries
Among other discoveries was an exceptionally-coloured new snake species discovered in 2010 and a new species of Mouse lemur, within Makira National Park, where illegal logging has possibly reduced these snake populations already.

Scientists also discovered a new colour-changing gecko, resembling the bark of a tree. It can quickly change its colour from a subtle brown to a colourful bright blue during courtship.

"These spectacular new species show what's at stake in Madagascar and what can be lost if we don't save it. WWF Madagascar will put all its effort and money towards protecting priority land- and seascapes and priority species" says Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana.

"By protecting the environment and the island's biodiversity, we are helping both the local communities and national government to attain more sustainable long-term development goals, and helping the world to protect irreplaceable natural resources."