Kalambatritra Special Reserve

Kalambatritra Special Reserve
Kalambatrika Special Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)[1]
Location of Kalambatritra Special Reserve
Location	Southern Madagascar
Coordinates	23°22′S 46°30′E
Area	282.55 square kilometres (109.09 sq mi)
Established	1959
Governing body	Parcs Nationaux Madagascar – ANGAP

Kalambatritra Special Reserve is a wildlife reserve in southern Madagascar. It is to the north of Andohahela National Park, south-west of the Manombo Special Reserve and contains many endemic species, including forty-five endemic bird species.

Geography

This 28,255 hectares (69,820 acres) reserve is within the commune of Begogo, in Anosy Region and 55 kilometres (34 mi) east of Betroka. The Kalambatritra massif is a series of undulating hills and steep summits and is part of the Antaivondro-Kalambatritra mountain chain. The many small streams feed the Ionaivo, Mananara and Mandrare rivers.^[2]

The dominant ethnic group in the area is the Bara people.^[2]

Flora and fauna

The humid, evergreen forest is relatively undisturbed and divided into blocks with savannahs of the coarse grass (Aristida imperata) inbetween. Among the 699 species of plants so far recorded on the reserve, two families are endemic; the Torricelliaceae, including Melanophylla alnifolia and the Sarcolaenaceae including Leptolaena pauciflora, which, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.^[3]

Seventy-four species of birds are known from the reserve, of which forty-five are endemic.^[4] They are all listed as of least concern except Meller's duck (Anas melleri), which is listed as endangered and the wedge-tailed jery (Neomixis flavoviridis), Madagascar yellowbrow (Crossleyia xanthophrys), Grey-crowned Tetraka (Bernieria cinereiceps), Pollen's Vanga (Xenopirostris polleni) and Rufous-headed ground roller (Atelornis crossleyi) which are all listed as near threatened.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Lemurs found on the reserve are listed below.

List of lemur species found in Kalambatritra Reserve^[11]

Viewing time	Species
Day	Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) Southern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis) Collared brown lemur (Eulemur collaris)
Night	Wright's sportive lemur (Lepilemur wrightae) Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

Threats

Growing rice and cutting wood for construction and cooking are the main threats to the area.^[2]

See also

• List of national parks of Madagascar

References

1. UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Kalambatrika from the World Database on Protected Areas. Accessed 28 August 2022. [1]
2. "Kalambatritra Special Reserve". Travel Madagascar. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
3. "Kalambatritra". Madagascar National Parks. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
4. "Kalambatritra Special Reserve". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
5. "Meller's Duck Anas melleri". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
6. "Wedge-tailed Jery Neomixis flavoviridis". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
7. "Madagascar Yellowbrow Crossleyia xanthophrys". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
8. "Grey-crowned Tetraka Bernieria cinereiceps". BirdLIfe International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
9. "Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
10. "Rufous-headed Ground-roller Atelornis crossleyi". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
11. 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. 648. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5. OCLC 670545286.

External links

• Kalambatritra Special Reserve

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