Blogs from Madagascar, Africa - page 23

After the jungle we planned to head to the coast, but as the omens fell we decided not to take the last train east to the coast but instead head West into the mountains were we would do some trekking. A long bus ride and a 40km 4x4 of bumpy road got us to the front gate of Andringitra National Park. Again slammed with entry fees, guide and this time even a porter. I know; our two young healthy bodies needed a porter to help carry our Americanised materials. We had him carry the food. We did have 50 plus pound packs and we were heading out on a 40 km trek. So it was smart. Plus he only cost about four dollars a day. We started out in the afternoon; the hike was a grueling ... read more

Commander Colin here! Our second half to our full day in Antananarivo ended with us taking a taxi to the old royal get away, perched on a hill 20km from town, looking over all of the rice paddies and surrounding villages. Highlight was deinitely the chameleons hanging out in the trees. We took the taxi back and called it an early evening at about seven thirty. We Woke nice qnd early to catch a bus to Antsirabe. The bus was made for 15 but we were able to smash in 20. It was a snuggly three hour ride through beautiful highland country. saddly though every inch of the land is turned into agricultural land. We made a few stops in very rural villages. We were bombarded by beggars and if you needed to you could drop ... read more

Assessing conflict between synanthropic bats and people in Moramanga Bat Communities in Civil Service Buildings: Population size, frequency, and Human Relations I will be studying the free-tailed bats (Molossidae)that roost in public buildings, particularly schools and hospitals, in the eastern town of Moramanga. The objective of the study is to determine what buildings are inhabited by bat colonies, and the perception of the local people to the bats. The study will help to determine the extent of the problem (if one exists) the bat populations pose to the community. I will be working with the Malagasy organization called Madagasikara Voakajy (www.madagasikara-voakajy.org). In 2007, Madagasikara Voakajy was alerted about a bat problem in the Ambahibe Primary School in Moramanga where teachers complained about the large colony of free-tailed bats that roost above the classrooms. ... read more

Tulear, Madagascar meat of choice: sea turtle current weather: hole in the ozone hot mode of transport: man-pulled 'puspus' ocupation: student today is our last day in Tulear, we leave for our 8 day tour of Protected Areas tomorrow which is quite exciting for that means camping all week! and treaking through the jungle. this past week has been our marine studies unit which has consisted of marine mammals, coral reefs, mangroves, and the very real experiental learning and actually going to visit all of these things. Swimming in the mangroves was surreal with the water on the top being hothot and the bottom water being the coldest. the roots came up from the bottom, making swimming resmble something out of tomb raider or indiana jones, if you fall you fall to your death, gouged by ... read more

We leave for Tulear tomorrow to start our marine unit, leaving behind Fort Dauphin until the beginning of December, and I cannot honestly say that I will miss it. Sorry for the long period of time lost between posts but I will try for a recap: 1) Village stay in Faux Cap in the hamlet of Mahabibo we werre there for 5 days, Zoe and I, in a small village of people who only spoke Malagasy our day tipically looked like this: wake up with the sun (around 6) climb out of the tent and be ushered inside the house for coffee sweetened wish coco powder and condensed milk, folowed by rice mixed with zebo milk after breakfast we were off to the bageda fields with mom to dig bageda(sweet potatoes) and all of this was ... read more