Madagascar & Comoros

One of nature’s crown jewels

Madagascar is the oldest island on the planet. All this time in isolation allowed strange and fascinating plants and animals to evolve here that are found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar and the younger volcanic islands of the Comoros form part of one of the five most important areas in the world for biodiversity. But this richness is under threat, with consequences for both wildlife and people.

Conservation for people and wildlife in Madagascar & Comoros

Durrell focuses on the most threatened species and the most threatened habitats of Madagascar and the Comoros. Rural communities depend on the same ecosystems for their livelihoods, so our approach is based on empowering these communities to lead in the protection of their local environments. Over 25 years in Madagascar we have developed a unique approach to community engagement which involves working with traditional leaders and associations, and reinforcing traditional culture, rules and customs. Read more

Durrell has supported the creation of over 170 community-led associations that provide the basis for the management of natural resources and protection of biodiversity.
Working with communities and Malagasy authorities, Durrell’s efforts have led to the creation of 4 protected areas – with three more to come in the near future.
There are now over 50 Madagascar pochard within our captive breeding programme, more than double the wild population. The future looks a lot brighter for this species.
Over 500 Critically Endangered ploughshare tortoises have been bred in our captive breeding centre, and over 80 released back to the wild as part of Project Angonoka.
Intense training for Malagasy biologists is offered through the Alison Jolly Madagascar Scholarship to attend the ‘Endangered Species Recovery’ course run by Durrell Conservation Academy in Mauritius.
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