page_title: Ankarafantsika National Park
section_title: Flora and fauna
hierarchical_section_title: Ankarafantsika National Park / Flora and fauna
caption_attribution_description: Madagascar Fish Eagle, Lake Ravelobe, Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar Swarowski 80 HD 30 X, Coolpix P5100 (Adapter DCB) The Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is classified as &quot;Critically Endangered&quot;. Its world population is estimated at around 120 breeding pairs (R. Watson in litt. 2010). The annual breeding success seems to be very low, but individual life expectancy is high. Ankarafantsika National Park is a good place to see Madagascar Fish Eagles in the wild. There are several watchtowers around Lake Ravelobe and eagles can also be seen from the roadside. This picture of a pair was taken in the evening, in bad light conditions.
context_page_description: Ankarafantsika National Park is a national park in the Boeny Region of Madagascar. The closest city is Majunga 115 kilometres north of the park. Ankarafantsika is mostly tropical in climate type. The Sakalava people are the predominant ethnic group living and farming here. The greater big-footed mouse lives in the park and is not known anywhere else.
context_section_description: Ankarafantsika National Park is mostly woodland, and the tree species are typical of dry tropical forest. Over 800 species are present, many of them endemic to Madagascar. Notable examples include the flowering bush mpanjakabenitany (Baudouinia fluggeiformis), the katrafay (Cedrelopsis grevei) used in traditional medicine, the small tree lohavato (Hymenodictyon occidental) and sakoanala (Poupartia silvatica), a large tree with conspicuous flowers.
  The native fauna of Madagascar are well represented. Ten species of amphibian and 44 reptile species are present. These include the rare Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis), the rhinoceros chameleon (Furcifer rhinoceratus) and the dwarf chameleon (Brookesia decaryi). There are two ground-dwelling boa constrictor snakes Acrantophis madagascariensis and Sanzinia madagascariensis, and the rare terrestrial snake Liophidium therezieni.
  Mammals include eight species of lemur, two of which are mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.), the world's smallest primates. The greater big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens) is a recently described small rodent known only in the park and its vicinity.
  One hundred and twenty nine species of birds have been recorded in the park, more than half of them endemic to Madagascar. They include the Van Dam's vanga (Xenopirostris damii), the rufous vanga (Schetba rufa), the elusive banded kestrel (Falco zoniventris) and the more easily observed Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) which can often be seen at Ravelobe Lake. The endangered Madagascar heron (Ardea humbloti) can be seen at Lake Ravelobe.
caption: Madagascar fish eagles
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