Madagascar & the Mascarenes
As a national conservation charity, we’re committed to creating a better future where wildlife can survive and thrive. With the expertise and dedication of our incredible partners, we have made huge progress to regenerate the biodiversity-rich landscapes in Madagascar & The Mascarenes.
The geographic isolation of Madagascar and the Mascarenes has given rise to ecosystems marked by high levels of endemism. Over 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife isn’t found anywhere else in the world.
A fascinating range of habitats spread across the 228,000 square mile island of Madagascar, while the Indian ocean’s volcanic Mascarene islands bustle with human communities and vibrant wildlife.
However, an increase in human activity has brought complex challenges to these islands and their rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened.
Across these regions, forests have been degraded as land use has changed. Tension also arises between people and animal species sometimes seen as a nuisance.
Alternative, sustainable livelihood options are urgently needed to mitigate the pressure on forests and secure a future for the people who depend on them.
Over two decades, we have helped pull an endangered bird species back from the brink, supported the construction and expansion of plant nurseries and carried out monitoring and research of rare species like the Mauritius fody (Foudia rubra), pink pigeons (Nesoenas mayeri) and cuckoo shrikes (Lalage typica).
Our Current Focus:
Roderigues fruit bats are a draw for many zoo visitors, but their wild habitats are being eroded and the bats themselves seen as an agricultural pest. We are contributing to educational and practical work to protect this species.
Meanwhile, we have partnered with other conservation organisations to protect at-risk forests, home to lemurs, golden mantella and endangered trees.
In the Malagasy forests of Mangabe, we are supporting partners to build an inventory of the biodiversity through staff exchanges, expeditions and capacity building, leading to sustainable re-forestation planting.
We are also working with local communities to establish a community-led, sustainable management plan for Mangabe, enabling them to patrol the protected area and prevent illegal gold mining, logging and land clearing for agriculture.
Our projects
Our project teams have been working closely with local communities to preserve Madagascar’s treasure trove of wild species. Since 2015 we’ve engaged with over 3,000 local conservationists in the protected ‘Mangabe’ area of Madagascar.
Our People
Meet the team
Charles serves as Project Manager for Chester Zoo’s Madagascar & Mascarenes programme, supporting our Malagasy NGO partners.
Hannah oversees education support for Chester Zoo’s field partners who are developing conservation education programmes across the world.
Bridget supports scholarly research into phenomena that affect Malagasy conservation
Philip oversees the horticultural work at the zoo. His team are involved in knowledge-sharing with our Malagasy partners.
