Tolanaro, Madagascar- For generations, zebu cattle have symbolised power and prosperity in Madagascar.
With their distinctive humped backs, long crescent horns, and flapping dewlaps, the animals are used to pull carts and plow fields; they're even featured on the country's coat of arms. In Madagascar's bustling capital, Antananarivo, zebu gain right-of-way ahead of cars and rattling Citroën taxis, while in upscale restaurants and street-side joints, hungry patrons savour sizzling zebu steaks. But despite their prominence, zebu herds have dwindled from 23 million in the early 1980s to about six million today. One Malagasy entrepreneur plans to rebuild the island's cattle industry and resurrect a zebu beef export market that faded decades ago due to chronic underinvestment and a lack of proper veterinary care.
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