• MAO was founded in 2010 by Mr.Michael McCavish.
  Our main objective is to help safeguard the incredible biodiversity in Madagascar.
  MAO recognizes the huge task ahead. A task that aims to save countless species from extinction and we begin with the precept of Lao Tzu that “ every 1000 mile march has a first step”.
  The founder of MAO hopes that you will join him in this long march and will help put your shoulders to the wheel to whatever extent you can in order to help us protect and preserve one of the last true Eden’s on our planet. The struggle to protect our beautiful planet has begun in earnest…..would you care to join us?

• As with most NPO’s we gather funds from various sources: private, public and corporate. Our team in the field helps us to ascertain where we can best utilize our resources for maximum effect. Our funds are spent in various ways:
  We are in the process of gathering funds for the purchase of large tracts of forest to be maintained as a perpetual wildlife sanctuary where animals can be left in peace to breed and multiply.
  At MAO we are generally against the keeping of animals in captivity however we have to submit to scientific statistics that some species need special intervention. For the most critically endangered species we are setting up breeding facilities where endangered species are bred for release into safe protected areas. Last year some 2000 chameleons were hatched at one of our facilities and were released back into their natural habitat. ….along with their parents!!!!
  At MAO we recognize the need to give the hunters, who are literally eating the animals in the forests, an alternative source of income. We have to show them that if they work with us to protect the animals then they can have a better livelihood with which to support their families and themselves. We are therefore supporting ongoing training schemes to turn the local population into guides and wildlife sanctuary wardens. We feel that eco tourism is the key to save Madagascar.
  MAO is keen to help support any project in Madagascar, which it feels falls under our basic goal: that of protecting the species of Madagascar so that they can flourish into the future. If you have a project that you feel might interest our organization please contact us here.

MAO is looking to recruit volunteers to work with us in Madagascar. We need volunteers with various talents.
If you think you could be useful to us we are happy to receive your resume at please click here.

MAO is looking for donations! If you wish to donate to MAO then please click here.

Further information about the situation in Madagascar

The Madagascan Ark Organization recommends that you look at the excellent work done by Rhett A. Butler


This site will help to bring you up to speed on some of the problems facing Madagascar as well as some of the work being done by our fellow organizations.

Hello everyone. Thanks for taking the time to look at our homepage. I think most people realize that our world and its biodiversity are under extreme threat. Most of us are passive. We look on, frustrated by the situation, without any clear path as to how we ourselves can make a difference. There is so much to do that one invariably feels swamped and we do nothing.
To become a doer is paradoxically easy and not easy at the same time. The difference is just doing it! I am known amongst my friends to be highly motivated. I speak 7 languages and graduated in Management Science from Kent university in the UK before going on to set up an international company based in Japan. I am a 6th dan black belt in Aikido and a 3rd dan in Taekwon do. Of the 57 countries that I have visited Madagascar certainly captured my heart and imagination. I fell in love with the island and its plethora of animals and plants. I realized that this place is special and this place MUST be preserved. I would feel satisfied with my life if I knew that I had made a positive contribution to helping to guarantee the many species of Madagascar a safe future.

As a young man I was influenced by Gerald Durell. My family and I had the pleasure of meeting him on a passenger boat heading to Africa. He was on his way to West Africa, the exploits of which were written about in his book “ Catch me a Columbus!” .His book “ The Aye Aye and I” based on his trip to Madagascar inspired and captured my imagination as a young man.
Mr.Durell went on to set up the Jersey Wildlife Trust and…………which to this day still does great work in the area of wildlife conservation and species protection. As a young man I studied reptiles and amphibians and mistakenly kept several species trying to breed them. I had limited success but soon realized that animals do not belong in confines. The best we can do is to secure large areas of their natural habitat for them so that they can live and breed in peace on their own. There are many specialists around the world who keep and breed animals and through them we know a lot about the various species so it is difficult to criticize them for some of their work has helped enormously to help preserve certain species.
I myself have some parrots and a Hornbill at my dive resort in the Philippines and I can tell you that nothing gives me more pleasure than to let them fly. In their case they always come back in the evening as there is no longer any wild habitat safe for them. Most of the large trees having been felled a long time ago. In Madagascar however we still have a chance to preserve primal rainforest. But the clock is ticking loudly!!!!

• For the last 25 years my main base has been Japan. It is here that our initial drive of fundraising takes place. I continue to try to encourage Japanese companies like Panasonic, Toyota, Sumitomo and the like to make donations to our cause, however we desperately need to increase our support base and get support from the general world public if we are going to stand a chance of doing the job properly.
  I implore all of you to step up to the plate and make a difference. Hopefully during our life times we will be able to turn the corner and reverse the trends of environmental destruction.
  Forests will be replenished and oceans and rivers will become cleaner. Through our efforts many species will be saved so that we can go on sharing our wonderful planet together so that our children and our children’s children will get the same joy that we have received from seeing a lemur in the wild or a chameleon crossing a path or a colourful day gecko crawling onto a table to lick at a piece of jam! We have taken the first step and now together lets get the job done!!!
  Whilst my personal focus is to encourage corporations to accept ecological responsibility I would like to impress on everyone that we all should take responsibility for the stewardship of this planet we call our home.
  Michael McCavish. Osaka Japan 2012.