Separated from mainland Africa by 350km of sea and 160 million years in evolutionary time, Madagascar is a parallel world, unlike any other. The island's long geographical isolation has effectively turned it into a living laboratory where the endless tamperings of natural selection have taken animals and plants along evolutionary pathways unlike anywhere else.
Consequently the vast majority of its species are endemic - in other words, they are found and live nowhere else on...
more »Separated from mainland Africa by 350km of sea and 160 million years in evolutionary time, Madagascar is a parallel world, unlike any other. The island's long geographical isolation has effectively turned it into a living laboratory where the endless tamperings of natural selection have taken animals and plants along evolutionary pathways unlike anywhere else.
Consequently the vast majority of its species are endemic - in other words, they are found and live nowhere else on earth. The mammals illustrate this perfectly as every single one of the island's native terrestrial mammals is endemic (not including bats that can fly). Most famous are the lemurs, Madagascar's unique primates, of which there are over 90 described species and perhaps more awaiting discovery.
Sadly, Madagascar also epitomises the woes of human - environmental conflict. Since the arrival of man roughly 2,500 years ago, our species has ravaged the island's forests. Today less then 10% or original cover remains, and half of what has gone has disappeared in the last 50 years.
Nick has been visiting the island since 1991 and has travelled to most of its regions, national parks and reserves to document the wildlife and interactions of the people with their environment. He has one of the finest collections of wildlife, environmental and cultural photos from Madagascar.
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