Ivoloina Parc Zoologique. Ivoloina is a 400-hectare forestry station on the east coast of Madagascar near the city of Tamatave. Parc Zoologique d'Ivoloina (Parc Ivoloina or PZI) is a small zoo which occupies about 4 hectares of the station. In 1986, PZI was closed after nearly all the caging and other infrastructure was destroyed by a major cyclone. The MFG's involvement with Ivoloina began in 1987 when, along with Duke University Primate Center, they sent a husband and wife team of technical advisors to Ivoloina: Andrea Katz and Charlie Welch. Andrea and Charlie began working on staff training and rehabilitation and development of the grounds, animal enclosures, and facilities. Three years later, in 1990, PZI was inaugurated and reopened to the public. The zoo receives approximately 14,000 visitors a year of which about 70% are Malagasy nationals. Their objectives at Ivoloina are to stimulate regional awareness and enthusiasm for conservation and to expand in-country captive breeding efforts for lemurs and other endangered Malagasy fauna. Working closely with the Ivoloina staff, Andrea and Charlie developed a master plan for a regional conservation center and zoo with programs for the captive breeding of endangered species native to the eastern rainforest region; conservation education for zoo visitors, local teachers, and schoolchildren; training of Malagasy staff in zoo animal husbandry and management; and research to lead to sound reintroduction and restocking projects for captive-bred and confiscated lemurs. With the building of a new Education Center and other support from MFG members, Ivoloina has become a nationally recognized center for environmental education. The Education Center has developed conservation education programs to benefit both teachers and schoolchildren. In such programs, teachers learn how to incorporate the environment and conservation into their lessons.