durrell wildlife conservation trust - madagascan fauna

Malagasy fauna - Madagascar

Based on the island of Jersey, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust works around the world to conserve endangered animal species. The Trust specialises in island species. The organisation was founded in 1963 by the writer and nature expert Gerald Durrell.

Durrell's Madagascar program is led by Richard Lewis. He has been involved in the rediscovery of the Madagascar pochard (Aythya innotata), a species believed to be extinct.

Considered the most endangered duck in the world, the last individual was seen more than 30 years ago, a consequence of the degradation of its habitat, the wetlands of Lake Alaotra.

In 2006, when a small population of 26 Madagascar pochards was rediscovered in an area far from its native range, on Lake Sofia, major conservation efforts were undertaken : a captive breeding and reintroduction program has been successfully carried out by the team of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Thus, after the release of more than 80 individuals and births, the population of pochards is growing on Lake Sofia. And good news, some individuals have moved from this reintroduction site to Lake Alaotra, more than 300 km away.

The return of the Madagascar pochard to Lake Alaotra demonstrates the success of the reintroduction program of the species whose aim is to re-establish populations in its former range.