Zahamena National Park

Zahamena National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Indri (Indri indri) in Madagascar
Location of Zahamena National Park
Nearest city	Antanandava, Ambatondrazaka
Coordinates	17°46′44″S 48°45′36″E / 17.77889°S 48.76000°E / -17.77889; 48.76000
Area	423 km2
Established	1997
Governing body	Madagascar National Parks Association
Website	www.parcs-madagascar.com
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Natural
Criteria	ix, x
Designated	2007
Reference no.	1257
Region	List of World Heritage Sites in Africa

Zahamena National Park is a national park of Madagascar. Established in 1997, it covers an area of 423 square kilometres (163.32 sq mi) out of a total protected area of 643 square kilometres (248.26 sq mi).^[1] It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rainforests of the Atsinanana, inscribed in 2007 and consisting of 13 specific areas located within eight national parks in the eastern part of Madagascar.^[2][3] In 2001, Bird Life International assessed avifauna of 112 species of which 67 species are exclusively endemic to Madagascar.^[4]

The park is habitat for 112 bird species, 46 reptile species, 62 species of amphibians and 48 species of mammals, including 13 species of lemurs. The ethnic groups inhabiting the area are mostly Betsimisaraka and Sihanak.^[5] The most prominent faunal species in the park are: Indri indri (babakoto), a black lemur with white patches; the Madagascar red owl (Tyto soumagnei), locally known as vorondolomena; the katsatsaka (Paroedura masobe), a small gecko; the Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), a threatened species; and the red-tailed newtonia (Newtonia fanovanae), a very common bird species in the park. The two most prominent endemic floral species are Marattia boivinii (kobila) and Blotella coursii (fanjana malemy).^[6]