Beza Mahafaly Reserve

The Beza Mahafaly Reserve is a nature reserve in Madagascar 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Betioky Sud. The reserve also provides training and research opportunities. It consists of a fenced gallery forest, approximately 100 hectares (250 acres), separated by 8 kilometres (5 mi) from a 520-hectare (1,300-acre) gallery of arid spiny forest. The reserve has a museum that is open to tourists.[1]

Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location of Beza Mahafaly Reserve
LocationSouthwest Madagascar
Nearest cityToliara
Coordinates23°40′S 44°36′E
Area1,433 acres (5.80 km2)
Established1978
Governing bodyParcs Nationaux Madagascar -ANGAP

Tree species featured in the two galleries include tamarind trees and Madagascar ocotillo, among many others. Animals residing in the galleries include four species of lemurs, four species of tenrecs, 17 species of saurians, 12 species of snakes, two species of tortoises and, in season, the Nile crocodile. There are over 100 species of birds.[2]

History

The Reserve was founded in 1975, when community leaders formed a partnership with the University of Madagascar (now University of Antananarivo), Washington University, and Yale University aiming to protect the forest.[3] It has been a centre for research and education since 1978, and the Bezà Mahafaly Monitoring Team of local researchers began work in 1995.[4]

Research

International researchers, supported by the Monitoring Team, maintain long-term studies of the reserve's wildlife. For example, Verreaux's sifaka and the ring-tailed lemur have been the subjects of collaborative research by Malagasy and US researchers for over 25 years. During this period, hundreds of specimens have been observed in the field, with individual tagging, anatomical measurement, and genetic and hormone sampling helping researchers to understand their behavior, physiology, mating strategies, and demography.[5]

In addition to collecting systematic data on climatic conditions, the Monitoring Team seeks to gather information about the human community living near the reserve: who they are, how they live, and what are their attitudes toward the reserve.[4]

Education and training
Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi).

Beza Mahafaly hosts an annual field school run by ESSA-Forêts, where 15-20 fifth-year students gain practical experience of conservation techniques in a 10-day course. The students undertake a combination of seminars, fieldwork, and independent projects. Field-based courses are offered to student groups from international institutions.[6]

Other group workshops, outreach events, and training courses targeted at local school children, adults living in nearby, university students, teachers, and government officials take place each year.

List of lemur species found in Beza-Mahafaly Reserve[7]
Viewing time Species
Day
Night
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta).
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See also

References
  1. "Bezà Mahafaly: Information for tourists". Yale University. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  2. "Bezà Mahafaly: Plants and animals". Yale University. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  3. "Bezà Mahafaly: Community partnership". Yale University. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  4. "Bezà Mahafaly: Monitoring Team". Yale University. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  5. "Bezà Mahafaly: Research". Yale University. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  6. "ESSA-Forêts". Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  7. Sussman, R.W.; Ratsirarson, J. (2006). "Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve: A research site in southwestern Madagascar". In Jolly, A.; Sussman, R.W.; Koyama, N.; Rasamimanana, H. (eds.). Ringtailed Lemur Biology. Springer. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-387-32669-6.
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