Madagascar

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After months of planning, preparation and anticipation, it is very exciting to have arrived in Madagascar. I have traveled about 10,000km and from winter to summer. It was snowing gently when I locked my front door to begin the journey. My flight arrived almost an hour late into Antananarrivo as it had to be de-iced before take-off in a subzero Paris.

I spending some time with The Madagascar Biodiversity Project at the Kianjavato Ahmason Field Station. Since I arrived, everyone I have met at MBP has been welcoming, friendly and helpful.

I think it is very fitting that upon arrival volunteers are invited to plant a tree at KAFS. I was lucky enough to get planting two trees. Someone suggested they should be called Peter and Petera.

Whilst we waited for his Deputy to arrive, myself and Fredo went a short walk along the river to a patch of giant bamboo. Fredo pointed towards movement among the leaves high up in the bamboo. My first lemur, a greater bamboo lemur. In all there were four or five individuals in the group including a mother with a young one on its back. I was in awe as we watched them move through the bamboo, oblivious to the fact that they are considered one of the most endangered mammal species in the world.

Here at KAFS I have been placed in a seed collection team. I enjoy the daily commute to a local forest to collect whatever seed is in season.

On my second day in the forest near Kianjavato we were working near a radio tracking team. They called us further on up the slopes and allowed me to follow them until we caught sight of the Southern Black and White Ruffed Lemurs in a tree just ahead of us.

That was another great moment for me. To see the iconic Varecia in their natural habitat. Three or four individuals, who must have known we were there, seemed happy to explore the trees with us watching. I thought it was comical to watch one back slowly down a tree trunk before skillfully turning around and continuing its descent to a branch. Watching the Varecia really brought home to me the importance of protecting and enhancing habitat for the lemurs.

For me is very exciting to know that almost every bird species I see here is new to me, house sparrows and feral pigeons aside, and given that many species are endemic, I will not see them anywhere else.

My growing list includes; Madagascar Wagtail, Red Fody, Common Myna, Madagascar Bulbul, Pied Crow, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascar White-eye, Olive Bee-eater, Madagascar Coucal, Blue Coua, Madagascar Manikin, Crested Drongo, and the list is growing.

The butterflies are amazing too.

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Photos

moonshot
Looks like a point scored GAA style

greater bamboo lemur
One of the most endangered species in the world