A reconnaissance of Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar: The status of the forest, avifauna, lemurs and fruit bats

Between 26 March and 3 April 1991 a reconnaissance of Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar, was conducted to determine the condition of the remaining forests and the species of birds occurring on the island. Specific information was sought on the snail-eating coua Coua delalandei, a species known only from Ile Sainte Maire, but which had not been reported for over 150 years. Sight observations and interviews with local people were used in this investigation. The only remaining forest on laterite soil, Forêt de Kalalao, has been severely degraded and is now a series of small disjunct blocks. One area of littoral forest, Forêt d’Ambohidena, is relatively intact. A single obligate forest bird is known still to occur on the island. There is a high correlation between the species of birds observed during the reconnaissance and those recognized from pictures by local inhabitants of the island. On the basis of the extent of habitat destruction, the condition of the remaining forest, and information from local people, the snail-eating coua is presumed to be extinct. Incidental information was also obtained about lemurs and fruit bats occurring on the island.