Masoala National Park

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The Masoala National Park is located on the Masoala peninsula in the north-east of Madagascar. The peninsula is enclosed by the Indian Ocean in the east and Antongil Bay in the west. On and around the Masoala peninsula are several protected areas. The Masoala National Park combined with the Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve within the bay is the largest nature protected area in Madagascar.

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Masoala can be translated to the eye of the forest - maso meaning eye and ala meaning forest in Malagasy. According to history, the first inhabitants of Madagascar settled in the Masoala region. During the 15th and 16th century, slave traders stopped at Nosy Mangabe on their sails to Asia or Europe. Today, the Betsimisaraka remain the dominant ethnic group of the Antalaha and Maroantsetra region. The people of Maroantsetra call themselves Antimaroa.

The Masoala National Park was created on the 2nd March 1997 and the Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve on the 14th December 1965. Masoala National Park is one of six national parks on the east coast of Madagascar, all of which were declared a World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO under the combined name Rainforests of the Atsinanana in 2010.

The entire Masoala protected area with a total surface of 240,520ha is divided into four terrestrial sections and three marine zones:

  • The main land plot covers 227,020ha of forest
  • The detached land plot of Andranoanala covers 1,300ha
  • The detached land plot of Andranomainty covers 1,600ha
  • The detached land plot of Beankora covers 620ha
  • The marine plot of Tampolo covers 3,600ha
  • The marine plot of Masoala covers 3,300ha
  • The marine plot of Tanjona covers 3,100ha

The additional Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve has an area of 520ha.

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Masoala is the wettest region in Madagascar, with an average annual rainfall between 2,200mm and 7,000mm. The driest months span between September and December. The tropical humid and warm climate is typical of eastern Madagascar. In general, the temperature varies between 24°C in January and 21°C in August.

The Masoala peninsula is very uneven in its northern and western parts. Further south, the slopes are less steep and a coastal plain stretches between Tampolo and Cap Masoala. The east side descents to a coastal plain with a width of up to 15km. Along the coast rocks alternate with sandy bays and reefs are located not far from the shore.

The particularity of Masoala is its terrestrial ecosystem, which is characterised by rainforests ranging from 0m to 1,300m above sea level. Masoala is one of the rare regions of Madagascar where the edge of the forest literally meets the sea. A fragile forest corridor joins the forest of the Masoala peninsula with the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve and the Makira Plateau. The existence of the corridor is essential to prevent Masoala from becoming an isolated ecosystem in terms of wildlife.

The marine and coastal ecosystem is characterised by several forest and rock patches, sandy bays, coral reefs, seagrass beds and narrow strips of mangrove forest.

In terms of biodiversity, Masoala is one of the richest regions of Madagascar. 50% of Madagascar's plant species and more than 50% of Madagascar's mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles can be found here.

The Masoala protected area is a very important water reserve for the region, as it supplies water for the rice fields and is a source of drinking water. The development of ecotourism benefits the local population, generating jobs such as guides, porters, craftsmen and merchants.

Conservation targets

Despite its strategic role, Masoala is threatened by human activities:

  • Dense humid forest 0m - 800m: Land clearing, illegal logging of precious timber
  • Eastern coastal forest: Highly threatened due to its proximity to villages
  • Reef: Erosion and silting threaten the coast, seagrass beds and mangroves

Protected species are highly threatened by poaching within and outside the protected area:

How to get there

There are two ways to reach the park, either via Maroantsetra or via Antalaha. The easiest and fastest mode of transport is by plane. Air Madagascar operates scheduled flights to Maroantsetra and Antalaha.

A car ride from Tamatave to Maroantsetra along the RN5 takes about two days (400km) mostly on a very bad road, which is often closed due to cyclones from December to March. Coming from Antalaha, there is a 45km stretch to Andranoanala (Cap Est). During the dry season the ride takes about four hours by 4x4 car, while in the rainy season some bridges may be impassable and rivers must be crossed by pirogue.

Alternatively and if coming by Tamatave, it is possible to reach Maroantsetra by sea. Depending on the season, cargo boats leave three to six times a week from Tamatave. The journey by sea takes between one and two days.

Ecosystems of Masoala National Park

Given its vastness, the Masoala National Park has several types of habitats in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems:

  • Dense humid forest 0m - 400m, dense humid forest 400m - 800m, dense humid forest 800m - 1,200m, dense humid forest 1,200m - 1,300m
  • Island forest (in addition to the Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve, there are ten other forested islands surrounding the Masoala peninsula)
  • Eastern coastal forest
  • Flooded eastern coastal forest
  • Coral reef
  • Mangrove
  • Herbarium zone

These habitats can be grouped into three categories:

  • Dense humid forest
  • Eastern coastal forest
  • Marine environment

Fauna

Birds

Until 2008, 102 species of birds have been identified in Masoala, of which over 60% are endemic to Madagascar. Different inventories led to the rediscovery of the Eutriorchis astur (Madagascar Serpent Eagle) in 1993. The Madagascar Serpent Eagle is considered the rarest bird of prey in the world and Masoala is currently the only place where this species has been observed on several occasions.

Masoala is also the home of the Tyto soumagnei (Madagascar red owl), which was first discovered in the forest of the Ambanizana region on Masoala peninsula. The Madagascar red owl is one of the rarest birds in Madagascar and one of the most endangered species of owls in the world.

Fourteen bird species are considered vulnerable and threatened in Masoala:

Scientific name English name
Eutriorchis astur Madagascar Serpent Eagle Endemic to Madagascar.
Accipiter Henstii Henst's goshawk Endemic to Madagascar.
Coua serriana Red-breasted coua Endemic to Madagascar.
Atelornis pittoides Pitta-like ground roller Species belonging to a family endemic to Madagascar.
Phyllastrephus cinereiceps Gray-crowned greenbul Endemic to Madagascar.
Oriolia bernieri Bernier's vanga Endemic to Madagascar.
Pseudobias wardi Ward's flycatcher Endemic to Madagascar.
Tyto soumagnei Madagascar red owl Endemic to Madagascar.
Lophotibis cristata Madagascan crested ibis Endemic to Madagascar.
Mesitornis unicolor Brown mesite Rare species belonging to a family endemic to Madagascar.
Randia pseudozosterops Rand's warbler Endemic to Madagascar.
Euryceros prevostii Helmet vanga Endemic to Madagascar.
Brachypteracias leptosomus Short-legged ground roller Species belonging to a family endemic to Madagascar.
Brachypteracias squamiger Scaly ground-roller Species belonging to a family endemic to Madagascar.

These results reflect only inventories on forest ecosystems. If adding up all the seabird species that live on the beaches and rocky shores, one can count far more than a hundred species of birds in Masoala.

Lemurs

Ten species of lemurs have been identified in the Masoala National Park:

  • Two diurnal (day active) species
  • Eight nocturnal (night active) species

The species Varecia variegata can be found on Nosy Mangabe and the endemic subspecies Varecia rubra on the Masoala peninsula.

Four of the lemur species found on Masoala are recorded as endangered in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

Scientific name English name Specifities
Varecia rubra Red ruffed lemur A subspecies which can be found only on the peninsula.
Allocebus trichotis Hairy-eared dwarf lemur An extremely rare species that was previously known only in three other locations: Zahamena, Vohidrazana and Mananara.
Daubentonia madagascariensis Aye-aye The strangest mammal on Madagascar and the sole representative of the Daubentoniidae family.
Phaner furcifer Masoala fork-crowned lemur The rainforest of Masoala is one of the rare places where this species can be found.

Carnivores

Seven species of the Viverridae familiy were identified in Masoala. They are all endemic to Madagascar, except the Viverricula indica (Small Indian civet).

Since the 1970s, Masoala is the only place where the Salanoia concolorb (Brown-tailed mongoose) was sighted. This species is the least known of Madagascar's carnivores. The already rare two carnivores Cryptoprocta ferox (Fossa) and Eupleres goudotii (Falanouc) suffer under the high predation pressure of the primary forest by the local population.

Rodents

The forests of Masoala are also rich or even richer in rodents than other forests of the eastern slopes of Madagascar. Nine rodent species have been inventoried so far in the Masoala National Park.

The introduced and invasive species Rattus rattus (Black Rat) was currently found in three locations: Andranobe, Ambohitsitondroina and Ambery. Nesomys audeberti (White-bellied nesomys) is known only to Masoala where this species is relatively common yet.

Insectivores

Ten species of the insect-eating Tenrecidae family (tenrecs) can be found in Masoala.

Insectivores are more common on the western side of the peninsula than on the eastern side. The Tenrec ecaudatus (Tailless tenrec) appears to be exceptionally rare in the primary forests of the Masoala peninsula compared to other regions of Madagascar's east coast.

Bats

14 species of bats have been identified on the peninsula.

A special study on the eating habits of the Pteropus rufus (Madagascan flying fox) showed the importance of this animal in pollination and therefore the dispersal of seeds and plants.

Boar

The wild boar Potamocherus larvatus (Bushpig) can be found on the Masoala peninsula.

Marine Mammals

The four cetacean species observed in Masoala include:

One species of sirenia, the dugongs, also exists in the region.

Reptiles and Amphibians

The few inventories carried out in this area have identified 60 species of reptiles and 44 species of amphibians. Whilst for Nosy Mangabe 30 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians were listed.

As in many other locations in Madagascar, there are many reptiles and amphibians on Masoala which have not even be rated yet.

An overview of the reptiles and amphibians of Masoala:

4 species of turtles have been identified in Masoala. These species are considered vulnerable and their number has declined significantly in the world.

Turtles of Masoala:

Fish

An inventory of freshwater fish took place at the following three locations: Andranobe, Ambohitsitondroinan'Ambanizana and the Iagnobe basin. The results show the importance and uniqueness of the region.

  • 23 species divided into 19 genera and 12 families of fish were identified in these rivers.
  • Two of the species belonging to the Bedotia and Rheocles genera were identified for the first time.

The Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) were also observed. This species of fish is considered harmful to native species. The scarcity of introduced species and the absence of Poeciliidae family, Osteoglossidae family and Cyprinidae family is recognisable in Masoala.

The population of freshwater fish in Masoala represents approximately 30.6% of the recorded species in Madagascar.

Saltwater fish:

  • 112 species were recorded around the peninsula in 1995.
  • A recent study in the three marine sections (Tanjona, Masoala and Tampolo) as well as Cap Est showed the presence of 134 fish species.
  • 208 saltwater fish species were identified around the peninsula.
  • During monitoring missions in the three marine sections, updated data revealed the existence of 346 species of reef fish around the Masoala peninsula.

Insects

Insects were carefully studied on the peninsula. For example, throughout inventories 135 species of butterflies were identified, of which 84 are endemic to Madagascar. Four butterfly species were newly discovered.

213 ant species were collected just in the western part of Masoala. Due to current studies by other teams, that list might be even extended. Masoala might be the ant richest site in the world.

In addition there are also:

  • 140 ichneumon species, for example wasps
  • 97 species of beetles
  • 32 species of tiger beetles

The best fauna most visible to tourists

Scientific name English name / Malagasy name Description Where to find When to find
Varecia rubra Red ruffed lemur. Rust-coloured lemur. In the lowland forest of Masoala. All year round.
Euryceros prevostii Helmet vanga / Siketribe Bird with large blue beak. In the lowland forest of Masoala. All year round.
Daubentonia madagascariensis Aye-aye Nocturnal lemur, the strangest mammal of Madagascar. Nosy Mangabe All year round.
Uroplatus fimbriatus Common flat-tailed gecko / Tahafisaka Nocturnal gecko, lives in the trees. Nosy Mangabe All year round.


Accommodation

Tampolodge
Fax: +261 020 5772149
Email: f-f@wanadoo.mg
Website: www.masoalamadagascar.com

Masoala Forest Lodge
Tel: +41 52624 1077 (Switzerland)
Email: mea@wanadoo.mg
Website: www.masoalaforestlodge.com

Arol Lodge
Tel: 033 12 902 77
Email: masoala@free.fr
Website: http://arollodge.free.fr/home.htm

Cap Est

Cap Est is the eastern most point of Madagascar and can reached by boat or by trekking from Antalaha or Maroantsetra. The closest town is Ambodirafia.

  • La Résidence du Cap
  • Hotel du Voyage
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