Kirindy reserve, Madagascar Kirindy reserve, Madagascar Kirindy is a privately managed forest in one of Madagascar's most threatened ecosystems: its dry deciduous forests. It it famous for the giant jumping rat, but is also home to seven species of lemur and a number of endemic reptiles. The flora is equally unusual -- a number of unique species are found at Kirindy.

The accomodations consist of simple open bungalows with mosquito nets and electricity but camping is also possible. Kirindy is a one-day stop for most visitors -- actually many visitors only stop here for a night hike on their way to somewhere else. Having four days here gives me more time to explore some of the outer reaches of the reserve but I'd recommend a shorter stay for most people. This time of year (the cool dry season) much of the wildlife (especially repitles and amphibians) are hibernating. The forest is also very dry whereas during the rainy season much of the area of flooded and bright green leaves cover most of the plants. Kirindy is not accessible from mid-January to late March due to the rain.

journal

Province: Toliary (Tul�ar)

Area: 10,000

Protected area status: Private reseve

Year established:

General location: Western

Location and Access: About an hour from Morondava

Climate: Western deciduous forest

Average temperature: 14-33�C*

Elevation:

Precipitation:

Description: Kirindy is a place of extreme seasonal changes. A short, hot rainy season between December and February (where temperatures may top 40 C) is followed by nine months with little rain and cool temperatures. During this dry season, Kirindy's forest is brown, many trees are virtually leafless, and much of Kirindy's wildlife is in hibernation. Every rainy season, Kirindy explodes in verdant green vegetation and its many species of reptiles and amphibians become active.

FAUNA
Birds:
Reptiles: 50
   Chameleons: 7
   Snakes: 11
Frogs: 15
Mammals: 31
   Lemurs: 8
   Rodents: 5
   Insectivores: 7
   Bats: 7
   Carnivores: 3
Lemur species:

Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi

Eulemur fulvus rufus

Mirza coquereli

Phaner furcifer

Lepilemur ruficaudatus

Cheirogaleus medius

Microcebus murinus

Microcebus myoxinus

FLORA:

Species:

Dominant ethnic group(s): Sakalava

Additional notes: See journal

Photos of Kirindy from Piotr Lukasik and other participants in the 2004 Tropical Biology Association Field Course.


Giant Jumping Rat




MAP/Satellite Picture



KIRINDY PHOTOS

Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi	Collared iguanid (Oplurus cuvieri) lizard	Paroedura bastardi gecko
Eulemur fulvus rufus in tree at Kirindy (Kirindy)	Red front brown lemurs in trees (Kirindy)	Red-fronted brown lemur (E. fulvus rufus) in tree (Kirindy)
Collared iguanid (Oplurus cuvieri) lizard (Kirindy)	Oplurus cuvieri at Kirindy (Kirindy)	Red-fronted brown lemur with baby on back at Kirindy
Phelsuma mutabilis gecko (Kirindy)	Female red-fronted brown lemur (Kirindy)	Mantella betsileo frog
aquatic insect in hand (Kirindy)	Green walking stick insect	Red-fronted brown lemur in tree (Kirindy)
Eulemur fulvus rufus lemur in tree at Kirindy (Kirindy)	Floweering water lily (Kirindy)	Yellow and blue butterfly on ground
Green striped frog	Beige Ground Mantis (Tarachodes sp)	Angry owl in bungalow
Roadside baobabs (Kirindy)	Begging red-fronted brown lemur (Kirindy)	Red fronted brown lemur in tree (Kirindy)
Red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) in tree (Kirindy)	Eulemur fulvus rufus (red-fronted brown lemur) (Kirindy)	Zebu cart (Kirindy)
Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi in shower (Kirindy)	Oplurus cuvieri iguana (Kirindy)	Mungotictis decemlineata mongoose (Kirindy)
thorn spider (Kirindy)	blue butterfly at kirindy (Kirindy)	red flowers (Kirindy)
Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi day gecko (Kirindy)	Yellow and blue butterfly	Lepilemur rufioaudatus lemur (Kirindy)
Kirindy pond with water lilies (Kirindy)	Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi gecko (Kirindy)	Mother red-fronted brown lemur (Kirindy)
Woman culling rice grains while feeding birds (Kirindy)	Sakalava weavers	Mungotictis decemlineata (Ten striped mongoose) (Kirindy)
slender baobab (Kirindy)	Baby oustaleti chameleon on hand (Kirindy)	Mother red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) with baby (Kirindy)
Red-fronted brown lemur with baby on back at Kirindy (Kirindy)	Red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) with baby (Kirindy)	Eulemur fulvus rufus in tree (Kirindy)