Madagascar, officially theRepublic of Madagascar, and previously known as theMalagasy Republic, is anisland countryin theIndian Ocean, off the coast ofSoutheast Africa. The nation comprises the island ofMadagascar(the fourth-largest islandin the world), and numerous smaller peripheral islands.Consequently, Madagascar is abiodiversity hotspot; over 90% ofits wildlifeis found nowhere else on Earth.It's home to thousands of animal species, such as lemurs, found nowhere else, plus rainforests, beaches and reefs.