I visited Madagascar a little over three years ago. Memories of this unique island in the Indian Ocean southeast of Africa have remained vivid. Why? The unexpected and strangely beautiful forms of life that I saw there are impossible to forget. It was as if time had misplaced this island.
At 592,800 square kilometres, Madagascar is the world s fourth largest island. Over the eons, life here has evolved in its own unique way. About 90% of the flora and fauna found here are endemic - that is, they are found nowhere else. In my trip I sought out some of these.
The Giraffe-necked Weevil was an insect like no other. The size of a beetle, it has a neck thrice the length of its body. It stood still on a leaf, but when my fingers came too close, it flew away instantly.