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Hunting |
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TenrecsMikea forage for three species of tenrec: the possum-sized tandrake (Tenrec ecaudatus) pictured left; the hamster-sized sora (Setifer setosus) and tambotrike (Echinops telfairi) pictured right. Tenrecs estivate (summer-hibernate) for nine months of the year, during which Mikea foragers gather them from their burrows in trees or underground. Tenrecs are active during the rainy season (Dec-Deb), when Mikea hunt them with dogs. |
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Other small mammalsOther small mammals that Mikea hunt include feral cat or tsaka (Felis sylvestris), pictured left; and several species of lemur, including the mouse lemur or tily (Microcebus sp.), pictured right; and the fat-tailed dwarf lemur tihitihy (Chierogaleus medius). Neither feral cat nor lemurs are sold in the market. Mikea rarely hunt lemurs, for they provide little meat. |
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BirdsMikea capture a variety of birds using traps, throwing batons, and blowguns (made from old metal tubing, arrows fletched with lemur fur). Common prey species include the "forest chicken," akohoala (Lophotibis cristata), pictured left; the giant coua, eoke (Coua gigas), pictured right; and wild guinea fowl or akanga (Numida meleagris), |
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BushpigLambo (Potamocorus larvatus), a relative of the African warthog, were common in the Mikea Forest in the past, but today they are rarely encountered (the photo on the left was taken at the Tsimbazaza Zoo in Antananarivo). Lambo are the only large game that Mikea hunt. Hunting bushpig is extremely dangerous. Men hunt in teams with specially-trained dogs. |
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