Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site lies on the eastern littoral, and is flat with sandy soil. It includes the freshwater Lake Sahaka—part of which, Lake Gendarme (120 ha) 0> is a Hunting Reserve—as well as the neighbouring wetlands Ampanasina-North, Ampanasina-Centre, Ampanasina-South, Ampasirabe, Doanihely and Doanibe. Lake Sahaka is fed by the Antsahampano river and many springs, and flows into the Manambato river. There is a large variety of habitats, including clearwater lakes, expanses of water-lilies (Nymphaeaceae), marshes with reedbeds of
Phragmites, seasonal lakes, savanna with palms
Bismarckia and baobabs (Bombacaceae), and a block of littoral forest. Part of the lake surface has been invaded by non-native water-hyacinth
Eichhornia. The lake has good fish stocks and is a refuge for waterbirds.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Fifty-two species are known from the site, of which 14 are endemic to Madagascar. The location of the site between the East and West Malagasy biomes explains the presence of western species such as
Actophilornis albinucha,
Falculea palliata,
Ploceus sakalava, and of one species specific to eastern wetlands (
Anas melleri). The African species
Ardea goliath, which is very rare in Madagascar, has been observed at the site. Species of global conservation concern include
Ardeola idae.
Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur coronatus (VU), E. fulvus sanfordi (VU). Reptiles: Boa madagascariensis (VU), B. manditra (VU).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats to the site include fishing, rice cultivation on shallow marshes, and hunting. Repeated bush-fires have increased soil erosion, and thus sedimentation in the lakes, resulting in the seasonal drying-out of Lake Gendarme and of the Ampasirabe wetlands.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Sahaka - Analabe NPA and extension (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-sahaka--analabe-npa-and-extension-iba-madagascar on 23/11/2024.
