Wildlife Madagascar is officially launching our fourth field site in the Angavo–Mandrare Landscape in southern Madagascar — a region containing one of the most extraordinary and imperiled ecosystems on Earth: the spiny forest.
The spiny forest is found nowhere else on the planet. Nowhere. It is a living cathedral of evolution — harsh, sculptural, resilient, unforgettable. The plants look imagined: the iconic octopus tree reaching skyward with twisting, spiny limbs; drought-adapted succulents spiraling and branching in improbable forms; endemic baobabs rising from red earth like ancient sentinels. This forest survives in extreme heat and minimal rainfall, and every species here has evolved in remarkable isolation.
Many scientists consider the spiny forest to be the most endangered forest type in Madagascar. Agricultural expansion, charcoal production, and unsustainable resource use continue to fragment what remains. And because this ecosystem exists nowhere else, when it is lost, it is lost forever.
Our Team on the Ground
We are very proud to share that our fourth field site officially launched just a few weeks ago. Under the leadership of our Program Manager, Delaïd Rasamosia, our new team — Najoro Andrianalijaona, Assistant Manager; Lynda Anjarasoa, Education Specialist; and Miora Andrianarivelo, Reforestation Specialist — has been working closely with our ecotourism partner, Madagascar Classic Collection, to establish our new field camp and begin building relationships across the region.
First Weeks of Activity at Our New Spiny Forest Field Site
These first weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We have been meeting with local communities to explore partnerships for protecting remaining intact spiny forest habitat, clearing land for a native plant nursery, visiting schools, and engaging with government officials, including the Mayor of Ifotoka.
We are deeply honored to be working alongside the Antandroy people to help preserve both their cultural heritage and the extraordinary biodiversity of their lands.
Wildlife of the Angavo–Mandrare Landscape
This unique landscape is home to remarkable species, including the radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) — one of the most visually stunning and imperiled tortoises in the world, now listed as Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and unrestrained poaching — alongside:
- Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) — one of the most recognisable of Madagascar’s primates and an iconic symbol of the island’s wildlife
- Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) — a large, white-furred lemur known for its distinctive sideways bounding gait on the ground
- Petter’s sportive lemur (Lepilemur petteri) — a small nocturnal lemur endemic to the spiny forest of southern Madagascar
- White-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus) — another nocturnal species found in the dry and spiny forests of the region
- Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) — a small, spiny insectivore unique to Madagascar’s arid south
- Madagascar flying fox (Pteropus rufus) — a large fruit bat and important pollinator and seed disperser across the island
- Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) — a remarkable wingless cockroach known for the hissing sound it produces as a defence mechanism
Our Partners: Madagascar Classic Collection and Turtle Survival Alliance
This work would not be possible without our donors and two extraordinary partners. Madagascar Classic Collection is generously creating the infrastructure for our field site, laying the physical foundation that allows research, conservation, reforestation, and community engagement to take place. Their commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation-driven development makes this collaboration deeply aligned with our mission.
We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turtle Survival Alliance, formalising our partnership to protect the radiated tortoise and other threatened chelonian species in this landscape. Turtle Survival Alliance brings global expertise in tortoise conservation, and together we will strengthen landscape protection, monitoring, and community collaboration in the region. As we move forward, we’ll focus on implementing our work with Turtle Survival Alliance to strengthen conservation efforts across the Angavo–Mandrare Landscape.
Part of a Bigger Vision
Protecting the Angavo–Mandrare Landscape is not simply about expanding our footprint. It is about safeguarding an ecosystem that cannot be replaced — protecting species that have evolved over millions of years and now depend on us — and working hand in hand with Malagasy partners and communities to ensure that people and wildlife thrive together. When we began Wildlife Madagascar, we set a 10-year vision: protect a million acres of critical habitat, safeguard endangered species including half of Madagascar’s lemur species, and work alongside communities to create a future where people and wildlife flourish. This fourth field site is a vital part of that journey.