Durrell's conservation work in Madagascar

Intro

Madagascar, situated off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, is believed to be the oldest island on the planet.

The country is home to more than 200,000 species, and it's estimated that 90% are found nowhere else on Earth. Since 1986, Durrell has been working to protect Madagascar's most endangered wildlife and secure the future of nature-dependent communities.

Alongside the local government, NGOs and community partners, the team works across several important wetland and dry forest areas, all home to highly threatened native species, such as the ploughshare tortoise, Alaotran gentle lemur, and Madagascar pochard.

target species

programme sites

121,768+

hectares protected

What we're doing to help in Madagascar

Protecting the forests

Clearing forests for agriculture and charcoal burning are decimating important dry forest habitats across the country.

What we're doing to help

We work with local communities to improve the detection of illegal activities and facilitate the rapid response of authorities.
Teaching sustainable farming

Slash and burn agriculture is a cyclic process where the forest is cut down, burnt and replanted. Crops are harvested and the land is left for four years before this process is repeated again and again.

What we're doing to help

We work with communities to promote the uptake of sustainable, climate smart agricultural practices that reduce the need to clear additional land and increase food security for the local communities.
Working with law enforcement

Demand from the international illegal pet trade is rapidly driving the ploughshare tortoise to extinction in the wild.

What we're doing to help

By working to improve the effectiveness of local law enforcement, and improving the financial security of local communities through savings groups, we aim to reduce the poaching and smuggling of tortoises.
Protecting freshwater turtles

The Madagascar big-headed turtle, known locally as "rere", declined rapidly in numbers due to habitat loss and hunting of the turtles and their eggs.

What we're doing to help

We work with local people to promote alternative food sources and coordinate a community-based nest protection programme to stop eggs from being taken during the nesting season.
Saving lemur habitat

Alaotran gentle lemurs are under threat from the illegal burning of their habitat for conversion to rice plantations and invasive species preventing the regeneration of remaining marshlands.

What we're doing to help

We work with communities in Alaotra to clear invasive plants from the marshes, promote alternative income generation activities that respect the environment, and restore degraded marsh habitats through planting.
Saving the world's rarest duck

Once thought extinct, the Madagascar pochard was rediscovered in 2006. Its population was so small that it would not be self-sustaining, and the species would have faced extinction without immediate conservation action.

What we're doing to help

A captive breeding programme was set up and Lake Sofia was identified as the best location to reintroduce the species. The team have been releasing ducks onto the lake since 2018, and are working to restore the marsh and aquatic plants.

Our partners

Our team in Madagascar are working to protect the Alaotran gentle lemur, bokiboky, Durrell's vontsira, giant jumping rat, Madagascar flat-tailed tortoise, Madagascar pochard, Madagascar pond heron, Madagascar big-headed turtle, Madagascar teal, Meller's duck and the ploughshare tortoise.

Watch the Durrell Lecture: The Magic of Madagascar to find out how our team is rising to meet the challenges of protecting some of the rarest animals on the planet.

Watch now

Madagascar

Intro

Madagascar, situated off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, is believed to be the oldest island on the planet.

What we're doing to help in Madagascar

Protecting the forests

Clearing forests for agriculture and charcoal burning are decimating important dry forest habitats across the country.

What we're doing to help

We work with local communities to improve the detection of illegal activities and facilitate the rapid response of authorities.

Teaching sustainable farming

Slash and burn agriculture is a cyclic process where the forest is cut down, burnt and replanted. Crops are harvested and the land is left for four years before this process is repeated again and again.

What we're doing to help

We work with communities to promote the uptake of sustainable, climate smart agricultural practices that reduce the need to clear additional land and increase food security for the local communities.

Working with law enforcement

Demand from the international illegal pet trade is rapidly driving the ploughshare tortoise to extinction in the wild.

What we're doing to help

By working to improve the effectiveness of local law enforcement, and improving the financial security of local communities through savings groups, we aim to reduce the poaching and smuggling of tortoises.

Protecting freshwater turtles

The Madagascar big-headed turtle, known locally as "rere", declined rapidly in numbers due to habitat loss and hunting of the turtles and their eggs.

What we're doing to help

We work with local people to promote alternative food sources and coordinate a community-based nest protection programme to stop eggs from being taken during the nesting season.

Saving lemur habitat

Alaotran gentle lemurs are under threat from the illegal burning of their habitat for conversion to rice plantations and invasive species preventing the regeneration of remaining marshlands.

What we're doing to help

We work with communities in Alaotra to clear invasive plants from the marshes, promote alternative income generation activities that respect the environment, and restore degraded marsh habitats through planting.

Saving the world's rarest duck

Once thought extinct, the Madagascar pochard was rediscovered in 2006. Its population was so small that it would not be self-sustaining, and the species would have faced extinction without immediate conservation action.

What we're doing to help

A captive breeding programme was set up and Lake Sofia was identified as the best location to reintroduce the species. The team have been releasing ducks onto the lake since 2018, and are working to restore the marsh and aquatic plants.

Our partners

Our team in Madagascar are working to protect the Alaotran gentle lemur, bokiboky, Durrell's vontsira, giant jumping rat, Madagascar flat-tailed tortoise, Madagascar pochard, Madagascar pond heron, Madagascar big-headed turtle, Madagascar teal, Meller's duck and the ploughshare tortoise.

Watch the Durrell Lecture: The Magic of Madagascar to find out how our team is rising to meet the challenges of protecting some of the rarest animals on the planet.

Where we work

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