Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island. Like its large tropical companions Borneo and New Guinea, it has a high level of endemism, i.e. fraction of species found nowhere else. Madagascar was mostly free of extensive human habitation until about 2,500 years ago. This has resulted in more than 75 percent of Madagascar's wildlife being endemic. In this course, photographically chronicle the marvelous wildlife seen on the visit to half a dozen widely separated and different environments. The focus is on natural aspects of the locations, but some cultural aspects will be presented.

Instructor: Dr. Larry Ramsey is a professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State, where he pursued research in solar-like activity on stars, stellar seismology, and astronomical instrumentation, authoring or co-authoring more than 300 publications. He also served from 2003 to 2011 as Department Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Dr. Ramsey and his wife, Mary, both enjoy the outdoors and spend their leisure time bird-watching and on nature travel. They have traveled in Africa and extensively in South America since 1986.