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 Madagascar |
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It is estimated that 14 species of lemur, the pygmy hippopotamus, two species of giant tortoise and three species of flightless bird are known to have become extinct since humans arrived on Madagascar. Habitat is still being lost at an alarming rate.
Deforestation is destroying Madagascar's
delicate habitats. In areas where there are no more trees, the
topsoil is unprotected and is eroding into the sea. This has a
terrible impact on the coral reefs, which
are dying.
In places where forests are partially gone, there is no more continuous
tree cover, and animals are restricted to small patches. If one
species becomes extinct, it could cause a chain reaction and many
species could become extinct because plants and animals depend
on one another for food, shelter and survival.
It has been said that the loss of 1 hectare of forest on Madagascar
has a greater negative effect on the world's biodiversity than
1 hectare of forest lost anywhere else on earth.
Click here to
see some of Madagascar's unique plants and animals. Use the menu
on the right, and click 'next' under each picture.
http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/mobot/madagascar/biographies.asp?order=25
Acknowledge
this source in your bibliography like this:
Madagascar
(2004).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
Updated January 2004