Costs tallied after wildfire in part of Madagascar national park
Costs tallied after wildfire in part of Madagascar national park
22 September 2010
published by www.monstersandcritics.com
Madagascar — Madagascar’s Isalo National Park was on Wednesday counting the cost of a wildfire, which ripped through the park over the weekend, gutting around 10 per cent of the reserve, local newspapers reported.
The 81,500-hectare park, which is situated in the south of the vast Indian Ocean island, is renowned for its diverse landscapes, including sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases, and grasslands.
Founded in 1962, it is home to several native species of plants, birds, reptiles and lemurs – the primates made famous by the Disney film Madagascar.
Strong winds fanned the flames, hampering efforts by hundreds of troops, park officials and volunteers to extinguish the fire.
By Wednesday, the fire had been brought under control.
Wildfires are common in Madagascar towards the end of the dry winter season. Sometimes the fires are started by arsonists.
It was not clear how this fire began.
