CONSERVATION OF MAMMALIAN-SPECIES DIVERSITY IN AMBOHITANTELY SPECIAL RESERVE, MADAGASCAR

Ambohitantely Special Reserve protects one of the few remaining remnants of native forest on the Central Plateau of Madagascar, yet its fauna is poorly studied. This paper describes the first systematic small mammal trapping programme to be implemented in the reserve. Between August 1988 and March 1990, Sherman and pitfall traps revealed the presence of four endemic tenrec species and an introduced rat. Diurnal and nocturnal surveys recorded three lemur species. The terrestrial mammal community of Ambohitantely is compared with other reserves in Madagascar. It is concluded that the reserve has a relatively species-poor mammal fauna which may be due to its isolation from contiguous forest blocks. It is postulated that the continued presence of wild boar and domestic cattle in the reserve and regular burning of the surrounding savannah have a detrimental effect on the native fauna and flora. The consequences for conservation are discussed