mad about

Mad about Madagascar

Madagascar is situated off the East coast of Africa and is surrounded by a number of smaller islands, including Pirates Island (St Mary's Island), the setting for Dr Midas and the Pirates.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island on Earth and it is home to lots of strange creatures, including lemurs, which are found nowhere else on the planet.

Sadly lots of wildlife in Madagascar is also endangered, so you might like to visit other websites which are involved in protecting the species at risk.

These include the World Wildlife Fund, Earthwatch, Friends of the Earth, The Rainforest Foundation, Durrell Wildlife Trust and many zoos.

In 2006/7 many zoos are involved in the EAZA scheme Mad about Madagascar. This year EAZA is campaigning for amphibians with The Year of the Frog. For more details click on the Amphobian Ark logo or the EAZA logo above.

For a list of places to see Madagascar wildlife in UK zoos, click on the 'Meet the animals' button. To add your suggestions please fill in the 'Contact Susan' form.

Photographs taken at Tropical World, Leeds by Susan Humphreys

Madagascar is home to more than 10,000 plant species and 90% of Madagascar’s plants occur nowhere else in the world.
The different types of plants found on Madagascar including cacti, palms, orchids and baobab (the upside-down) trees.
You can see the Madagascan Rosy Periwinkle flower at the Grow Zone, Chester Zoo. You can see island cacti and plants at Tropical World, Leeds.

You may like to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew site which includes details on the threatened plants of Madagascar, including how to make a donation to their Threatened Plants of Madagascar appeal.

Dr Midas's adventure takes him to St Mary's Island just off the east coast of Madagascar.
The island includes a real Pirates' Cemetery from when Buccaneers were based there.
(Graveyard photographs courtesy of www.8thcontinent.nl)

To learn more about the pirates who Dr Midas meets click on Heroes and Villains.