Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park

Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park is a national park in the Atsimo-Andrefana region of south-west Madagascar.

The park was established in 1997 and is divided into three forested sections, on gently undulating sandstone hills. In 2001, Bird Life International assessed avifauna of ninety species of which thirty-eight species are exclusively endemic.

Geography

The park is in the Atsimo-Andrefana region and covers the forests of Zombitse, Vohibasia and Isoky-Vohimena on gently undulating sandstone hills.

The Isalo massif and Isalo National Park is 90 kilometres (56 mi) to the east and runs in a north-south direction, and an 820 metres (2,690 ft) high calcareous plateau to the west, runs in a similar north-south direction.

It is 147 kilometres (91 mi) north-east of the town of Toliara, the site of the nearest airport, and the Welcome Office is at Sakaraha 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the park entrance.

The local Bara people and Mahafaly people are the main ethnic groups in the area.

Flora and fauna

Ninety species of birds are known from the park, including thirty-eight endemic species. The park meets the Birdlife International criteria as an Important Bird Area.

One species Appert’s tetraka (also known as Appert’s greenbul (Xanthomixis apperti) is classified with a conservation status of vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Eight species of lemur are recorded; Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is an endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as is the Pale fork-marked lemur (Phaner pallescens).

List of lemur species found in Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park;

Day  

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufifrons)

Night       

Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

Fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius)

Coquerel’s giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli)

Hubbard’s sportive lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum)

Pale fork-marked lemur (Phaner pallescens)

Other orders of animals include thirty-three species of reptile and eight species of amphibian including Standing’s day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) which is also considered to be a vulnerable species.

Conservation

Deforestation is a problem within the park with continual losses due to slash and burn agriculture.