Comoros forests

The four Comoros Islands that lie in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and East Africa are a unique ecoregion, the Comoros forests.

These volcanic islands are rich in wildlife with endemic species including four endangered bird species living on Mount Karthala, the large active volcano on Grand Comoro Island. The islands have a wet tropical climate with a rainy season between October and April.

Both the flora and the fauna are similar to Madagascar, although there are more than 500 species of plants endemic to the Comoros. The two larger islands Grand Comoro and Anjouan have higher peaks and a variety of lowland and mountain forest, with mangroves along the coasts.

There are more birds, mammals, and reptiles than one would expect to find on an Indian Ocean island, including lemurs, as in nearby Madagascar. Endemic species include 21 species of birds, 9 species of reptiles, and two species of fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii and Rousettus obliviosus). Other mammals include the mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) and a sub-species of the Seychelles fruit bat (Pteropus seychellensis comorensis).

The population of the Comoros is currently over 700,000 and as it increases more and more forest is being cleared for farming, with volcanic eruptions and cyclones damaging the forest further, and threatening the fruit bat populations in particular.

The largest unspoilt forest remaining is located on the higher mountain slopes including Mount Karthala, which is unprotected as is the forest on Ntingui on Anjouan. Protected areas include Mount Combani and the Saziley National Park on Mayotte, while the only protected area in Comoros proper is the marine park on Moheli.

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