Page 26 - Southern Exposure - June '22

Page 26, Southern Exposure

Travel from page 25

has been stripped from
the island, causing the
forests to disappear and
the rivers to run red with
the soil that is being
carried away from the
forested land.
T he c ount ry i s
the home of some 50
species of lemurs, a
tree-dwelling, monkey-
like animal. Lemurs are
primates named for the
ghosts of the Roman dead
said to have roamed the
night. They are the closest
living descendants of
the common ancestor
of monkeys, apes and
humans. These squirrel-
size creatures scurry A view of Antananarivo, capital city of Madagascar A field of baobab trees
about the subtropical
forest of Madagascar, as they have for the past 50 million Arabs established trading posts on Madagascar. The to overpower Madagascar. Within the last 50 years the
years. Interestingly, Madagascar was never inhabited by Portuguese arrived around the year 1500 and the French island has lost over 50 percent of its forest.
monkeys, yet lemurs have developed a monkey’s way of established settlements in the early 17th century. The Madagascar was one of the first entries on my wish list
life. The island of Nosy Komba is known as Lemur Island French took complete control in 1896, and it became a of places in the world that I had always wanted to visit,
and has become an attraction for those who wish to observe French overseas territory until 1958 when it became the ever since my sixth grade geography teacher painted that
these animals in a controlled wildlife environment. autonomous Malagasy Republic. Two years later in 1960 it idyllic picture in my mind of what to expect. Perhaps it
Another creature of Madagascar is the fossa, which is was proclaimed an independent republic. It is thought that has been too long since I left the sixth grade or perhaps
a carnivorous mammal related to the catlike civit, and is because of these relationships, that the Malagasy people I hadn’t kept up with this island on the other side of
about the size of a sheepdog. There are also more than 800 are distinct from those of Africa, and more closely related the world. One thing is for sure, based upon my visit: I
species of butterflies on the island and the spiny globefish to Indonesians. Subsequently, migrations from the Pacific, would wager that my teacher had never visited the island.
(also known as the puffer fish or porcupine fish) is found Africa and Arab countries have separated Madagascar Needless to say, I didn’t expect to see the picture of the
in the waters here as well. The most dangerous animal that into 18 distinct ethnic groups. Over a quarter of the reality that Madagascar offers today.
inhabits Madagascar today is the crocodile. It is difficult Malagasy are Medina, followed closely by Betsimisaraka, Even though organizations such as the World Wildlife
to classify the danger that may have existed in the past. the Betsileo and the Tsimihety ethnic groups. There are Federation have stepped in, it is believed that it might be
Many of its larger animals, such as the aepyornis (elephant also small minorities of Indians, Chinese, French and too late for a great number of species that originated in
bird), the world’s largest known bird, disappeared in a Comorians. Malagasy is a language of Indonesian origin Madagascar. One might point their finger at the people
wave of extinction ending some 500 years ago. Eggs of and it, along with French, is the official language. and population explosion. However, do they likewise not
these birds are still occasionally found along stream beds Although the fourth largest island in the world, have the right to survive as well?
after heavy rainfalls, having been washed out from deep Madagascar ranks in the bottom percentile of places Madagascar in a travel destination that would not be for
in the natural forests. tourists seek out for travel. Why, you might ask? Simply the majority of our society, but it mustn’t be overlooked.
The island was probably visited during the first because of the population explosion that increased today’s Scientists, botanists and environmental experts are
century by Indonesians. In the seventh century, the population to some almost 28 million inhabitants (Source: diligently attacking the problems of today’s interaction
CIA World Factbook). Man continues to take the unique of people and nature. Hopefully, the Malagasy will be
elements from this island. Fifteen hundred years ago when able to maintain an environmental status quo and will be
men first started to inhabit the island, there were countless successful at turning things around.
numbers of one-of-a-kind species of fauna and flora, such Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
as the giant tortoise, pigmy hippopotamus, giant lemurs having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas
and the elephant bird that stood some 10 feet high, and and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders,
has been estimated to weigh nearly a ton. All of these his family owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol
special creatures started disappearing some 500 years ago, Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6,
when people started to converge on the island. It is also Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel
thought that perhaps a strange climatic condition aided needs of the South Florida area for over a quarter of a century.
in their demise; another El Niño perhaps? Nonetheless, Contact him at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
the demands of the impoverished people have continued Photos by Don Kiselewski

The fossa
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