Facts about Madagascar other than vanilla.
It's hard to think of much else other than vanilla beans when it comes to Madagascar. However, there are surprisingly many interesting facts:~
- MORAINGY / THE AYE AYE / CHAMELEONS/ PIRATES
Bare fisted fighting or Moraingy is a traditional martial art that originated during the Maroseranana dynasty (1675–1896). On Reunion Island it is recognized as a national sport.
A typical moraingy competition consists of a series of matches pitting two fighters, typically from different villages, against one another.
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It has the Aye~Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) a long fingered lemur found only on Madagascar with rodent like teeth. Discovered by French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton in 1795.
Scientists believe there may be around 100 or more Aye~Aye left in the wild and 50 Aye~Ayes in zoos around the world, including a captive breeding program involving various institutions managed under a European Endangered Species Program (EEP) and a Species Survival Plan (SPP)
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Madagascar is home to about half the world's 150 species of chameleons
Chameleons originated in Madagascar, rather than having hitch~hiked when the island split from Africa and India.
They are diurnal, solitary, and often aggressive towards members of their own species. Being opportunistic hunters they for prey to pass within range of their long tongues.
The name "Chameleon" is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion) so their name means "earth lion."
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Underwater explorers in Madagascar say they have discovered treasure belonging to the notorious 17th-Century Scottish pirate William Kidd.
A 50kg silver bar was brought to shore from what is thought to be the wreck of the Adventure Galley. Captain's Kidd's treasure is the stuff of legends. People have been looking for it for 300 years in and around the waters of Madagascar.
The bar was presented to Madagascar's president at a special ceremony.
Born in Scotland in about 1645. He was appointed by the Crown to tackle piracy and capture enemy French ships, but turned to piracy himself.
In 1698, he looted the Quedagh Merchant. Unfortunately for Kidd, the captain of the ship was an Englishman.
Capt Kidd was captured and brought back to London. He was found guilty of piracy and sentenced to death.
Legend had it that Capt Kidd inspired author Robert Louis Stevenson when writing Treasure Island.