Wilds of Madagascar (1988)
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Synopsis by Betsy Boyd
Much like the Galapagos Islands, Madagascar has developed in isolation, giving the wildlife population a chance to introduce new species. However, unlike the Galapagos Islands, Madagascar has not yet passed environmental protection laws. In the video National Geographic: Wilds of Madagascar viewers journey to remote sunken forests to view the exotic animals of this oasis and meet British naturalists who study the island's wildlife to determine how much preservation and protection the island needs. On the north end of the island, Ankarana, a limestone plateau nestling sunken forests is home to some the rarest species on the planet, from leaf-tailed geckos (who resemble tree bark) to lemurs and baobab trees. The narrator explains that conservation is not a practical concept for the subsistence farmers who make up 90% of Madagascar's population. Ultimately, the documentary addresses the problem of sustaining and improving both wildlife and human existence.
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Keywords
Madagascar, Africa, animal, conservation, endangered-species, farming, forest, island, wildlife