Madagascar Teal

Anas bernieri

Studbook Keeper:

Allan Craig Mikel, Louisville Zoological Garden

The Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri) is a small, endemic duck of Madagascar and is classified as Endangered in the wild due to its very small and declining population. It inhabits freshwater wetlands, including lakes, marshes, and slow-moving rivers, often favoring areas with dense vegetation for cover and nesting. Madagascar teal are primarily herbivorous, feeding on seeds, aquatic plants, and algae, but they also consume small invertebrates such as insects and crustaceans. Ongoing threats, including habitat destruction, wetland drainage, and hunting, make the protection and restoration of Madagascar’s freshwater ecosystems critical for the species’ survival.