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Hello. I'm Yvette Razafindrakoto, a research scientist from the Wildlife Conservation Society working in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History. I want to show you my island home of Madagascar. It's a special place, because many of its plants and animals can't be found anywhere else in the world. |
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They are "endemic" to this island. Often, island plants and animals survive only in one place-their island. But people live on the island, too. They also need food to eat and places to live. Balancing all the needs on an island is a tough job. I'm working with other scientists and conservation groups to help solve this problem in Madagascar. I've prepared some questions to help you explore this special island. See if you can find answers in the pictures. | ||
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1. Rich forests once covered Madagascar. But today, many places have just bare soil. People cleared the forest to plant crops and make room for cattle to graze. How did they clear the forest? |
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2. Madagascar's forests, a precious resource, have disappeared. Now the island's soil, which is necessary to grow crops, washes into the sea with every rainfall. Satellite pictures from NASA show how soil runoff has colored the waters around Madagascar. Can you tell the color of the island's soil? | ||
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3. Island plants and animals are often unique, because they've developed in isolation. One of Madagascar's unusual endemic animals is the aye-aye. Can you find its special adaptation for picking grubs out of tree bark? 4. The radiated tortoise is one of Madagascar's endangered animals. But people still hunt this species for food and to sell as pets. What other dangers might they face? |
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5. Madagascar is home to
57 species of chameleons-more than anyplace else in the world.
The smallest is only about an inch long, but the
largest has a tongue that's two feet long!
How do you think it uses that long tongue?
6. The disease leukemia was once deadly to children. But today, almost all kids who have leukemia survive- thanks to a plant first found on Madagascar. Can you find the rosy periwinkle? |
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