Isalo National Park

Isalo National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Southwestern Madagascar
Nearest city	Toliara, Ranohira
Coordinates	22°33.5′S 45°24.0′E / 22.5583°S 45.4000°ECoordinates: 22°33.5′S 45°24.0′E / 22.5583°S 45.4000°E
Area	815 km²
Established	1999
Governing body	Madagascar National Parks Association (PNM-ANGAP)

Isalo National Park is a National Park in the Ihorombe Region of Madagascar. The park is known for its wide variety of terrain, including sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases, and grassland. The closest town is Ranohira, and the closest cities are Toliara and Ihosy.

History

Isalo National Park was created in 1962 and has been administered by Madagascar National Parks authority since 1997. The Bara people have traditionally inhabited this area, a nomadic people subsisting on cattle (zebu) farming. This area has a tropical dry climate with seasonal rainfall.^[1]

Tourism

A local guide is required for visitors entering the park, and guides and porters can be hired in Ranohira. Treks in the park can last from several hours to a week or longer. The park includes several natural swimming pools which are popular among tourists, and are excellent sites to see the Benson's Rock Thrush. The main threat to this park comes from illegal wildfires set in the park. The wildfires limit the extent of forest and maximize grasslands used by cattle.^[2]

Flora and fauna

A total of 340 faunal species are known to inhabit the area, including 82 species of birds, 33 species of reptiles, 15 species of frogs and 14 species of mammals. Notable examples include the snake Acrantophis dumerili, the white-lipped bright-eyed frog (Boophis albilabris) and the Malagasy rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei). The many species of bird found here include Benson's rock thrush (Monticola sharpei bensoni), the knob-billed duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) and the Madagascar ibis (Lophotibis cristata).^[2]

Several different species of lemur are found in the park.

List of lemur species found in Isalo National Park^[3]

Viewing time	Species
Daytime	Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufifrons)
Nighttime	Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) Red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus) Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli)

There are over 400 species of plant in the park, many of them endemic to the region. They include the Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis) which recovers well after fires, Catharanthus ovalis which has medicinal uses, the elephant's foot plant (Pachypodium rosulatum) and the aloe Aloe isaloensis named after the mountain massif.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Sign for Isalo National Park
• 
  Verreaux's sifaka at Isalo National Park
• 
  Red-fronted brown lemur as Isalo National Park
• 
  Red-fronted brown lemur showing fangs
• 
  Red-fronted brown lemur
• 
  Lemur catta
• 
  Pachypodium rosulatum gracilius
• 
  Elephants foot plant at Isalo National Park
• 
  Elephants foot flower at Isalo National Park
• 
  Waterfall and Piscine Naturelle
• 
  Canyon des Makis
• 
  Lush and arid landscape
• 
  Eroded Rock formations at Isalo National Park
• 
  Standing Stones at Isalo National Park

See also

• List of national parks of Madagascar

References

1. Bradt, Hilary; Austin, Daniel (2007). Madagascar (9th ed.). The Globe Pequot Press. pp. 113–115. ISBN 1-84162-197-8.
2. "Isalo" (in French). Madagascar National Parks. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
3. Mittermeier, R.A.; Louis, E.E.; Richardson, M.; Schwitzer, C.; et al. (2010). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (3rd ed.). Conservation International. p. 647. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5. OCLC 670545286.

External links

• Official website (in French)
• Wild Madagascar- Isalo