Page 8 - The Shores of Jupiter - June '22

Page 8, The Shores
Madagascar: The Remains Of Another World

By Don Kiselewski, MCC,
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens
Travel Leaders
The character of
Madagascar has always been
an enigma. Great portions of
its fauna and flora are found
no other place in the world. It
is as if the world had started
on this island before it broke
away from Africa, and not
everything got off to propagate
throughout the world when it
was split from the mainland. A field of baobab trees
The word “unique” A view of Antananarivo, capital city of Madagascar
finds true meaning because common ancestor of monkeys, apes and humans. These
of what remains of the squirrel-size creatures scurry about the subtropical forest
diversity of nature that of Madagascar, as they have for the past 50 million years.
has been bestowed on this Interestingly, Madagascar was never inhabited by monkeys,
island in the Indian Ocean. yet lemurs have developed a monkey’s way of life. The island
A quarter of a million of Nosy Komba is known as Lemur Island and has become
square miles make up the an attraction for those who wish to observe these animals in
land surface of Madagascar. a controlled wildlife environment.
It split away from Africa A bright-eyed lemur Another creature of Madagascar is the fossa, which is a
165 million years ago, and carnivorous mammal related to the catlike civit, and is about
is now separated from the the size of a sheepdog. There are also more than 800 species
continent by 300 miles at of butterflies on the island and the spiny globefish (also known
its closest point. as the puffer fish or porcupine fish) is found in the waters here
Located about as far south as well. The most dangerous animal that inhabits Madagascar A typical fishing village on the island of Nosy Komba, which
of the equator as Florida is today is the crocodile. It is difficult to classify the danger that is also home to countless lemurs
north, Madagascar’s landscape may have existed in the past. Many of its larger animals, such
is made up of ridges, valleys, as the aepyornis (elephant bird), the world’s largest known thought that perhaps a strange climatic condition aided in their
tropical forests and rivers. bird, disappeared in a wave of extinction ending some 500 demise; another El Niño perhaps? Nonetheless, the demands
Each of the many areas on years ago. Eggs of these birds are still occasionally found of the impoverished people have continued to overpower
the island differs in climate. A along stream beds after heavy rainfalls, having been washed Madagascar. Within the last 50 years the island has lost over
backbone of mountains stretch out from deep in the natural forests. 50 percent of its forest.
down the length of the island The island was probably visited during the first century Madagascar was one of the first entries on my wish list
and Mount Maromokotro, by Indonesians. In the seventh century, the Arabs established of places in the world that I had always wanted to visit, ever
located in the north, is the trading posts on Madagascar. The Portuguese arrived around since my sixth grade geography teacher painted that idyllic
island’s highest at 9,435 feet. the year 1500 and the French established settlements in the picture in my mind of what to expect. Perhaps it has been too
Rivers flow on the western early 17th century. The French took complete control in 1896, long since I left the sixth grade or perhaps I hadn’t kept up
side of the island, and the east and it became a French overseas territory until 1958 when it with this island on the other side of the world. One thing is
coast lies behind coral beaches became the autonomous Malagasy Republic. Two years later in for sure, based upon my visit: I would wager that my teacher
and an almost continuous 1960 it was proclaimed an independent republic. It is thought had never visited the island. Needless to say, I didn’t expect
chain of lagoons that form an that because of these relationships, that the Malagasy people to see the picture of the reality that Madagascar offers today.
inland waterway. are distinct from those of Africa, and more closely related Even though organizations such as the World Wildlife
Madagascar is 1,000 miles to Indonesians. Subsequently, migrations from the Pacific, Federation have stepped in, it is believed that it might be
north to south and 360 miles A ring-tailed lemur Africa and Arab countries have separated Madagascar into too late for a great number of species that originated in
wide, with a shape that 18 distinct ethnic groups. Over a quarter of the Malagasy are Madagascar. One might point their finger at the people and
roughly resembles Medina, followed closely by Betsimisaraka, the Betsileo and population explosion. However, do they likewise not have the
a left footprint, the Tsimihety ethnic groups. There are also small minorities right to survive as well?
without the small of Indians, Chinese, French and Comorians. Malagasy is a Madagascar in a travel destination that would not be for
toes making a mark. language of Indonesian origin and it, along with French, is the majority of our society, but it mustn’t be overlooked.
It has a population the official language. Scientists, botanists and environmental experts are diligently
of about 28 million Although the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar attacking the problems of today’s interaction of people and
people (Source: ranks in the bottom percentile of places tourists seek out for nature. Hopefully, the Malagasy will be able to maintain an
CIA Factbook) and travel. Why, you might ask? Simply because of the population environmental status quo and will be successful at turning
overpopulation has The fossa explosion that increased today’s population to some almost things around.
been a concern to 28 million inhabitants (Source: CIA World Factbook). Man Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
environmentalists for a long time. More and more of the natural continues to take the unique elements from this island. Fifteen having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas
environment has been stripped from the island, causing the hundred years ago when men first started to inhabit the island, and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders,
forests to disappear and the rivers to run red with the soil that there were countless numbers of one-of-a-kind species of fauna his family owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol
is being carried away from the forested land. and flora, such as the giant tortoise, pigmy hippopotamus, Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6,
The country is the home of some 50 species of lemurs, giant lemurs and the elephant bird that stood some 10 feet Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel
a tree-dwelling, monkey-like animal. Lemurs are primates high, and has been estimated to weigh nearly a ton. All of needs of the South Florida area for over a quarter of a century.
named for the ghosts of the Roman dead said to have roamed these special creatures started disappearing some 500 years Contact him at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
the night. They are the closest living descendants of the ago, when people started to converge on the island. It is also Photos by Don Kiselewski

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