Madagascar, as the fourth largest island in the world, is often called the "eighth continent." Madagascar has been settled in the past 200 years by people from Asia and Africa, yet its culture is neither African nor Asian, but an intriguing blend of the two that is uniquely Malagasy. With thousands of species of plants and animals that exist only on this island, Madagascar is considered a global environmental "hot spot." From an evolutionary perspective, it is "the path not taken" and is justly considered by many to be a world treasure to be preserved for future generations. While Madagascar supports a fairly large human population whose presence often threatens the environment, the Malagasy work hard at conserving their natural heritage while maintaining their culture and lifestyle.