Madagascar tree boa  (Sanzinia madagascariensis)

Habitat loss through deforestation for human settlement and agricultural practices has meant that the Madagascar tree boa is restricted to the remaining protected areas of Madagascar (2). This amounts to just 10 – 20 % of the original primary forest on the Island (5).

The Madagascar tree boa is part of a captive breeding programme, but the only sure way to ensure its survival is to protect the remaining habitat in Madagascar by implementing sustainable forestry. In September 2003, the president of Madagascar agreed to triple the amount of land under protection from 15,000 km² to 50,000 km² within five years (5).