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Our first month in Madagascar has flown by, though not without taking us along for the ride! In the time we’ve been
here, Kyle and I have been able to help with many different SAVA Conservation activities while working on northern
bamboo lemur (
Hapalemur occidentalis
) research in Antanetiambo forest. Our first week was spent flagging trails in
Antanetiambo Nature Reserve, which means “little hill.” The forest is owned by Mr. Desiré Rabary, an award-winning
conservationist and wonderful host. By flagging and GPS-marking the many trails in Antanetiambo, Kyle and I were able
to create a complete trail map of the reserve while learning GPS and map-making skills, as well as getting to know our
way around the reserve. Becoming familiar with the trails, habitats and plant species of Antanetiambo with the
knowledge and experience of Rabary and our other team member Jackson, has been very valuable to understanding
the ecology of the reserve’s resident bamboo lemurs and mouse lemurs. The new trail system will surely facilitate
tourism and forest monitoring of the reserve.
Our understanding of the nutritional ecology of the bamboo lemurs will be greatly benefited by the arrival of
Richard Randrianaivo, an experienced botanist from Missouri Botanical Garden, who will identify the scientific names
of most of the plants in Antanetiambo. We have already established botanical plots for his work in many of the
different habitats in the reserve. Our current project of creating a map of the different habitats in Antanetiambo will
illuminate the habitat preferences of these lemurs and document their ranging, using GPS, in relation to the myriad of
Faye with a
Brookesia
chameleon.
By Faye Goodwin
The Roots of Conservation: Learning and Growing