Carnivores of Madagascar
EXPEDITION BRIEFING
Dear Earthwatch Volunteer,
Hello! I’m glad you’ve expressed interest in the Carnivores of Madagascar project and hope you’ll be joining me during the upcoming field season! Although this will be the fourth year Earthwatch volunteers are helping in the field, this year marks the eighth anniversary of my first encounter with the focus of our studies: the dynamic, yet enigmatic carnivores of the Red Island.
The largest of the carnivores of Madagascar, Cryptoprocta ferox, commonly known as the fossa, is the top, keystone member of the Malagasy food chain. Despite its place of extreme importance within the ecosystem it inhabits, we know very little about the habits, distribution, or conservation status of this elusive predator. So little is known about the fossa and its natural history, for example, that the carnivore family to which this “killing machine” should be assigned has been a recent point of scientific uncertainty. With its cat-like weaponry and the tenacity of a mongoose, it is certain that the fossa is one of the most agile and capable mammalian predators on Earth. I need you to help me learn as much as possible about the fossa, its behavioral ecology, and conservation biology so that we may effectively help protect this endangered species and the ecosystem in which it plays such an important role.
In the past five years, we have collected and analyzed more than 1500 scats from Ankarafantsika, captured more than 35 study animals, collected more than 10,000 animal-hours of radiotelemetry data, and hiked more than 25,000 person-kilometers while checking traps and conducting ecological monitoring surveys.
Within a project having such broad spectrums of goals and activities as ours, you’ll never find yourself lacking activities in which to participate any time of day or night. If you’re not hiking the large grid to check for newly trapped carnivores, you might be at a radiotelemetry station tracking the signal of an animal we radiocollared a few days before, or you might be back at camp helping to monitor a recently trapped individual as it recovers from the anesthesia we administer before we collect anatomical measurements and attach radiocollars. In this flurry of activity, it sometimes may be easy to forget to eat, sleep, or apply large amounts of sunscreen and mosquito repellent, but there will be time for that and lots of additional group and individual activities too.
When you’re not busy with the trap checks, ecological surveys, or radiotelemetry work, you can work on one of the other projects we are conducting in Ankarafantsika. You might be able to help Dr. Julie Pomerantz (fossa team field vet) process domestic animals, help Kimberly Marchant (project field assistant) conduct interviews with local people or Anna Kopitov (project field assistant) survey the local bird life. You can also stroll through the Jersey Wildlife/CI tortoise conservation and breeding facility on site, meet one of the host-country graduate students or research assistants at the local “cafe” for conversation over coffee or beer, go out looking for Madagascar’s Harrier Hawk or other exciting bird watching highlights, or simply enjoy a nap in your tent. All the while, you can be confident that you’re helping to simultaneously learn about and conserve one of the most unique and enigmatic groups of mammals in one of the most endangered habitats on Earth.
I hope you’re as excited about this work as I am and will join our carnivore research team in the dry forests of Ankarafantsika! See you there!
Best wishes, Luke
1
Carnivores of Madagascar
Table of Contents
1. The Project ...... 4
2. Research Objectives ...... 5
3. Methods...... 6
4. Application of Results...... 11
5. Field Training...... 16
6. Volunteer Assignments...... 17
7. Project Staff ...... 18
8. Research Area...... 21
9. Travel Planning...... 22
10. Itinerary...... 25
11. Daily Schedule...... 26
12. Team Development...... 27
13. Accommodations ...... 27
14. Food...... 28
15. Physical Conditioning ...... 29
16. Medical Advice ...... 31
17. Emergencies in the Field ...... 33
18. What To Bring ...... 34
19. Helpful Resources ...... 37
20. The Reading List...... 38
Literature Cited...... 39
2
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: (1) Luke Dollar (2) Stuart Pimm, Ph.D.
POSITION / TITLE: (1) Doctoral Fellow, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment Program in Ecology; Founder, Carnivore Conservation and Research Trust; Vice-Chair; IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group; Research Associate, Duke University Primate Center
(2) Doris Duke Chair and Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment
PROJECT TITLE: Carnivores of Madagascar: Conservation, Distribution, and Abundance of Carnivores in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar with Special Emphasis on the Impacts of Non- Endemic Competitors on the Behavioral Ecology of the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
RESEARCH SITE: Ampijoroa Research Station, Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar
TEAM SIZE: Minimum: 8 Maximum: 16
Abstract of Proposal Earthwatch volunteers are needed to study the distribution, abundance and behavior of carnivores in the Ampijoroa Research Station Area of Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. Research activities will include weighing and measuring captured individuals and radio-tracking Madagascar’s largest mammalian predators’ movements. Primary interest will focus on Madagascar’s largest carnivore, Cryptoprocta ferox, commonly known as the fossa, and how it is affected by non-endemic carnivore species. Results of this study will benefit ecologists, mammalogists and conservationists by providing insights to the composition and status of the Park’s carnivore populations. It will afford the opportunity to create new data sets for Madagascar’s biodiversity research programs and management plans for conserving Ankarafantsika’s valuable biodiversity.
3
RESEARCH PLAN
1. THE PROJECT
Despite the unique ecology and enigmatic evolutionary history of Malagasy carnivores, members of this family have been the subjects of few in-depth field studies. The carnivores of Madagascar, like many other members of the island’s biota, display a particularly high degree of endemism among modern taxa. Seven of the eight species of carnivore found on Madagascar have no extant representatives anywhere else in the world. No felid, hyaenid, and canid representatives are commonly recognized within Madagascar’s endemic mammalian predator guild. As in most biodiversity hotspots, non-endemic species encroach upon the natural habitats of Madagascar’s top endemic predator. Investigating and identifying how both endemic and invasive predators divide their resources and otherwise affect one another provides significant information to increase our understanding of both ecological and conservation issues in Madagascar and abroad.
In the absence of additional endemic carnivore competitors, the eight viverrid and herpestid carnivore species found on Madagascar must fill a particularly broad range of niches. Galidia elegans, and its allies Galidictis, Salanoia, and Mungotictis, represent the herpestid stock and Eupleres, Fossa, and Cryptoprocta represent the viverrids. Volunteers should note that the common name of Cryptoprocta is fossa, which also happens to be the scientific name of a different genus, Fossa. This has been a long-standing point of confusion. Henceforth in this proposal, when I use the term fossa, I am referring to the common name of Cryptoprocta.
The current conservation status of the Malagasy carnivores, noted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), ranges from “vulnerable” to “unknown,” and many of these species are targeted for persecution by indigenous human populations and continue to decline in numbers. Carnivore populations have been identified in more than twenty protected areas throughout Madagascar (Kohncke and Leonhart 1986), but most of these populations have not been monitored for almost thirty years.
The focal site for this proposed project is the Ampijoroa Research Station and its surrounding area in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. This project consists of trapping surveys of carnivore populations to estimate their current distributions and relative abundances. Our study focuses on an in-depth examination of the natural history and behavioral ecology of Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the puma-like Cryptoprocta ferox, commonly known as the fossa. Only three species of Malagasy carnivore are thought to occur at Ampijoroa. These are Cryptoprocta, a recently discovered (yet taxonomically unidentified) species of wild cat, and the smaller, non-endemic Viverricula indica. We are particularly interested in how invasive, competing species affect the behavioral ecology of the large, endemic Cryptoprocta.
The trapping portion of the research project, in which volunteers most actively assist, is merely a portion of the research and conservation activities that are included in this project’s priorities. Research pursuits associated with this project range from natural history to veterinary to genetic studies. In addition, the presence of our well-established field team also lends assistance to and promotes the development of other biodiversity studies in the region. The conservation aspect of this work ranges from direct wildlife based educational activities and community outreach to the
4 development of multiple sustainable alternatives to traditional activities that previously contributed to Madagascar’s current biodiversity crisis.
Our conservation and research efforts are in close collaboration with L’Association Nationale par la Gestion des Aires Protégées (ANGAP), the Department of Water and Forests of Madagascar, the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE), Conservation International, the World Wildlife Fund, and the University of Antananarivo, among other entities currently active throughout the region.
Our research provides baseline assessments of current carnivore populations including data on their behavior, abundance and distributions in Ankarafantsika National Park in addition to an established monitoring program on the overall biodiversity of Ankarafantsika. This has established and facilitates long-term monitoring of these populations. In this way, we are developing important scientific results and also help ensure the conservation and maintenance of the endangered species and habitat of Ankarafantsika and the surrounding Mahajunga basin.
2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Our research project consists of trapping surveys of carnivore populations to accurately assess their current distribution, abundance, and genetic variability within Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar, while giving particular concentration to examining the behavioral and conservation ecology of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox).
The specific primary objectives of this research are to:
1. Conduct trapping surveys to further locate and identify the carnivore populations and trends in the Ampijoroa Research Station area of Ankarafantsika National Park, collect anatomical data on each species of carnivore at this site, and to collect carnivore scat samples for analysis of diet composition/contents;
2. Establish baseline indices or indicative measures of relative abundance of Cryptoprocta ferox and additional carnivore populations in the dry, deciduous forests of Ankarafantsika;
3. Track captured fossa and wild cats using radiotelemetry to determine their home ranges and activity patterns;
4. Conduct extensive ground truthing studies for ongoing remote sensing projects examining trends in fossa habitat;
5. Continue conservation, development, and capacity building projects in & around Ankarafantsika.
The secondary, long-term objectives of this project involve the assemblage of a larger data set from sites throughout Madagascar to be incorporated into a larger, long-term, island-wide project. The secondary objectives of this project are:
6. Examinations of the effects of habitat fragmentation on carnivore populations throughout Madagascar;
5
7. Examinations of niche separation within and among Malagasy carnivore populations;
8. Examinations of the ecological correlates to the behavior of the Malagasy carnivores within (seasonally) and between research sites;
9. Population genetic examinations of the variability within and between populations throughout Madagascar. This work, in part, may facilitate evaluations of the systematics (scientific classification) of the Malagasy carnivores;
10. Examining the impact of invasive carnivore species upon the behavior, ecology, and conservation of the region’s endemic species;
11. Examination of remaining carnivore habitat using remote sensing techniques for the purpose of setting country-wide conservation priorities;
12. Development of an objective assessment of the long-term conservation status and trends of forests/protected areas throughout Madagascar via analysis of rates of deforestation / loss of forest cover over time as depicted in satellite images;
13. Assessment of disease threats to the overall health of endemic forest species, via direct epidemiological testing and examination of several animal species that may serve as a reservoir or vector for disease or parasites.
3. METHODS
With the assistance of Earthwatch volunteers, the lead Principal Investigator (PI), Luke Dollar, conducted his first field season at the Ampijoroa Research Station in 1999 to investigate the research site and lay the groundwork for this ongoing project. The PI led a trapping and radiotelemetry study in the Lac Tsimaloto region of Ankarafantsika (22 km east of the Ampijoroa Research Station) the year before, in 1998. At the Lac Tsimaloto site, six different Cryptoprocta were trapped in 12 trapping events during 400 trap-days. More than 300 hours of radiotelemetry data were also collected during this 3.5 week survey. While the biomass of predators found in the Lac Tsimaloto (1998 and 2001 surveys) and Ampijoroa (1999-present) regions of Ankarafantsika National Park was relatively constant, the composition of Ampijoroa’s top trophic level was completely unexpected.
In 1999, we made an unexpected discovery. Wild cats, large competitive felids (possibly the African wild cat or a Malagasy variant), are present in Ampijoroa’s savannahs and transition forests. This elucidates an alarming problem faced by endangered endemic carnivores worldwide. While the cats are relatively prevalent in the open and scrubby natural spaces found on Ampijoroa’s topography, they do not enter or use resources from deep within Ampijoroa’s woodlands, where the fossa retains a competitive predatory advantage. Although the fossa is still the only predator capable of preying on the largest of prey species – Ampijoroa’s larger primates – the presence of the wild cats leads to a notable difference in the density and ranging of Cryptoprocta. At Ampijoroa, fossa occur at lower density than in the nearby Tsimaloto region. In addition, their home ranges are larger. Although the diet of fossa in the presence of this new- found felid competitor has not yet been fully examined, preliminary results indicate that Cryptoprocta specialize more heavily on prey species that the wild cats are incapable of taking
6 than they would in habitats free from competition. We have collected more than 1000 scat samples over the last three years. Analysis is complete on 800 of these as of September 2001.
In 2001, we noted a significant increase in density of Cryptoprocta nomadically passing through our study areas. While we would like to believe that this increased trap success belies an increased level of conservation for fossa in the Ampijoroa region, other factors are also likely affecting this trend. Significant habitat disturbance in the east end of Ankarafantsika (as identified by satellite analysis and groundtruthing surveys) has caused an upsurgence of pressure leading to an apparent westward migration into the remaining, less-disturbed habitats within the Park.
Primary Objectives and Their Methods
1) Conduct trapping surveys to further locate and identify the carnivore populations and trends in the Ampijoroa Research Station area of Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar, collect anatomical data on each species of carnivore at this site, and to collect carnivore scat samples for analysis of diet composition/contents; and 2) Establish baseline indices or indicative measures of relative abundance of Cryptoprocta ferox and additional carnivore populations in the dry, deciduous forests of Ankarafantsika;
Trapping Surveys
Initially, large grids and transects were mapped onto several portions of the study area. Large Hav-A-Hart and Tomahawk live-capture cage traps are placed at regular intervals on the transects and grids, for a total of more than 40 active traps. As there is no means of travel within the research area other than by foot, our trap-line size (up to 25 km in a single hike) is the largest that is physically feasible to practically pursue the goals of this study. Considering the relatively large home range of Cryptoprocta (Dollar, 1997; Hawkins, 1998), a much larger area would be required to attain actual abundance measures (Wilson et al., 1996). Therefore, attaining indices of relative abundance (as in Caughley, 1977, among others) is a more realistic focus for this study (objectives 1 and 2). The location of the trap grids remains constant from survey period to survey period to lower the likelihood of bias in achieving objective number 2. In addition to following our specific mark-recapture protocol for multiple 10 day trapping sessions (in adherence to previous studies), other traps are often opportunistically moved to additional, remote parts of the surrounding forests so as to potentially increase the sample size of study animals.
Ten day trap surveys are conducted by each team of Earthwatch volunteers. This affords a total of at least 400 traps/day/team session at the research site. Traps are checked twice daily while active trapping is in effect. Two trap-checking groups “split up” to each check separate trap lines. During each check of the traps, a walking census of all animals encountered is also conducted, providing baseline ecological monitoring data for analysis of long-term biodiversity trends in Ankarafantsika. All fossa scats (>1000 to date) are collected during grid checks (objective 1). Fresh and incompletely dessicated fossa scats are easily differentiated from wild cat scats by their characteristic smell. Additional distinguishing features include the shape and deposition/distribution of the scats themselves. In addition, fossa scats have a characteristic long tail that is not seen in the wild cat samples we have collected to date.
Trap check teams stay in contact with one another, the radiotelemetry teams, and base camp via the use of hand-held radio. The number of captures per unit effort provides a baseline measure or index for assessment of relative abundance of species captured. This measure is important for the long-term monitoring of carnivore populations within the research area, helping to meet objectives 1, 2, 6 and 10 as outlined in section 2.
7
In addition to the cage-trapping portion of the survey, phototraps are also used to help evaluate the variety and presence of carnivores and their prey in Ankarafantsika National Park. Phototrapping involves a wide-angle, weatherproof photographic apparatus attached to either an infrared or motion sensor - or even a pressure pad - which triggers the shutter release when activated, exposing the animal and time of passage on film. This type of mechanism can ‘trap’ more than one animal before reactivation, does not depend upon physical encounter, investigation, and entry. This procedure involves much less trauma on part of the animal in question -- an animal need merely pass by the camera to be ‘trapped,’ after which it continues on its way unaware of its contribution to the assessment of its environment. This technique has proven successful for photocapturing terrestrial, arboreal, and avian fauna and is responsible for the discovery of more than one previously unidentified species and has also provided incontrovertible evidence and identification of poachers and illegal tree cutters in many areas (Wilson et al., 1996).
While photo-traps are not used as replacements for cage traps, some cameras are placed in proximity to cage traps to facilitate an evaluation of the number of trap visits by study animals relative to actual capture events at those traps. Phototraps placed in additional areas of the research site help to confirm or refute that all possible carnivore species are sampled at Ampijoroa by affording a non-invasive capture technique. After the cage trapping portion of each field season is complete, camera traps are placed along the grid system to provide “recaptures” of the individually marked fossa as well as uncaptured and immigrant animals. This bait station analysis also provides us a means of forming an index of relative abundance for fossa population monitoring (Bookhout, 1996) that does not rely on an animal entering into an enclosed cage. Nor does it depend upon the reliability of multiple observers to find and assess numbers of feces or tracks found on the grid. This camera technique has been successfully implemented on a number of North American carnivores including bears (D. Martorello & M. Pelton, pers comm), marten, fisher, lynx, and wolverine (Zielinski and Kucera, 1995).
Animal handling, processing, and measurement
Once trapped, the animals are tranquilized for handling purposes using Telazol (Tiletamine & Zolazepam). We have experimented with the use of a Ketamine and Domitor drug mix as an alternative to Telazol. This combination, even in stronger than published doses is ineffective at attaining a necessary level of anesthesia. We have concluded that Telazol is the safer anesthesia for the purposes of this study due to its rapid induction and thorough degree of incapacitation of the animals.
Captured Viverricula will be released from the trap into a handling bag. Drug is administered via intramuscular injection with the animal still in the handling bag. Captured Cryptoprocta and wild cats are tranquilized while still in the trap using the Pneu-dart drug delivery system. Using the Pneu-dart system, a trained staff member blowpipes the trapped larger carnivores using procedures outlined by Glander, et al. (1992). Anesthesia is delivered via dart in the hindquarters and only if the animal is facing away from the shooter so as to reduce the risk of damage resulting from shots in the face, abdomen, shoulder, or neck.
Once the animal appears to be adequately tranquilized, the darter and an assistant remove the tranquilized animal from the trap or handling bag. Anatomical measurements are taken prior to affixing and activation of the radiocollar device to captured fossa. Anatomical measurements collected include weight, total body length, tail length, hind limb length, hind foot length, hind limb girth, forelimb length, forefoot length, forelimb girth, chest girth, neck circumference, height at shoulder, ear length, canine anterior-posterior and lateral diameter, carnassial molar lengths, and genital measurements. All anatomical data are collected by the lead PI so as to avoid bias in interobserver measurement techniques.
8
The morphometrics selected represent a conglomeration of anatomical measurements used in several different realms of mammal ecology. Definitions for most of these measures are derived from Dayan & Simberloff (1994) and Eason Smith & Pelton (1996). Body length is measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Tail length is measured from the base of the tail to the tip of the most distal bony tail segment (tip of the last tailbone). Hind limb and forelimb length is measured from the medial fold of the limb to the tip of the longest portion of the foot pad. Hind foot and forefoot length is measured from the most proximal to the most distal portion of the foot pad (from the maximum points on the foot). Forelimb girth is measured around the widest portion of the brachium. Hind limb girth is measured around the widest portion of the thigh region. Chest girth is measured just inferior to the forelimbs. Neck circumference is measured at its widest point. Collection of this information fulfills objective 1.
After anatomical measurements, ear-tagging, blood and tissue collection (for population genetic analysis - objective 9 – and for epidemiological study – objective 13), and attachment of a unique color-coded radiocollar are complete, the study animal is returned to the traps at the location of capture, monitored until free from drug effects, and released.
3) Track captured fossa and wild cats using radiotelemetry to determine their home ranges and activity patterns;
Activity and ranging assessments using radiotelemetry
There are two main foci in the use of radiotelemetry in this project. They are: to assess ranging and the pattern of activity in Cryptoprocta and other carnivores, including wild cats, in the study area.
Once the first new radiocollars (1 year life span) are attached and study animals are released each new field season, the radiotracking portion of this project begins. Subgroups of volunteers and staff members collect ranging data on study animals using two-receiver triangulation techniques from recently constructed, permanent radiotelemetry towers at far ends of the research area. This technique involves radiotelemetry teams placing themselves at known, regular monitoring stations/locations (towers) and simultaneously recording the bearing of a given radio-signal from that location. Locations for each study animal are measured twice per day (roughly every 12 hours) when within range. The previous range of our radiotelemetry equipment was limited to less than 2 kilometers. With the completion of 5 m tall radiotelemetry towers (permanent, large antenna at 7 m), that range is increased by up to an order of magnitude. Teams coordinate their measurements using hand-held 5-watt (high output) 2-way radios. The locations of and bearings between the monitoring stations (towers) is known to within 5 m, measured using Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected when the station locations were originally identified.
As the need for additional monitoring sites presents itself, they are mapped onto more remote portions of the study area for future tower placement. Two additional towers are slated for construction within the research area, for a total of four monitoring stations. The monitoring stations and all their inter-site proximities are mapped onto x, y axis, and assigned x, y coordinates. The simultaneous signal bearings taken at these stations will be used to calculate an x, y coordinate of the animal’s location at that time using the program TRIANG (White and Garrott, 1990). Using the program WILDTRACK, these location coordinates, taken over time, will be used to calculate movement patterns. Home ranges will be calculated using the minimal convex polygon method of home range estimation.
Only two radio towers are used for regular data collection at present, as only two towers have been constructed. The project vehicle is opportunistically used as a third triangulation point. We
9 will be able to more regularly utilize three position triangulation techniques with the upcoming completion of construction of additional towers.
In addition, measurements of activity patterns are facilitated by the use of activity sensors built into the radiocollars. Volunteers not only note bearing to the study animal from their monitoring towers, but also note the activity level given by different activity-level signals emitted by the radiocollar. This facilitates analyses of daily and seasonal activity patterns based on “resting,” “locally active,” and “traveling” measures.
This schedule of radiotelemetry will continue throughout the ensuing year’s life of each collar, providing information on seasonal changes in ranging, activity pattern, and habitat usage and preferences, helping to meet research objectives 3, 6, 8, 10, & 11.
4) Conduct extensive ground truthing studies for ongoing remote sensing projects examining trends in fossa habitat;
We examine trends in fossa habitat by using Landsat 5 images as a baseline for forest cover at the beginning of the last decade and conducting further analyses on more recent images. The image or images corresponding to each area of habitat are rectified to recent, geometrically correct Landsat 7 images of the same path and row to an error of less than 12 meters per 100 kilometers. The corrected Landsat 5 baseline image is then overlaid upon the corresponding newer Landsat 7 image to create a single twelve-layer file. This file is then classified using supervised classifications for forest maintained, original nonforest, forest lost, water, and various image masking characters such as shadow, cloud, or smoke. Erdas Imagine 8.4 software is used for image analysis.
The image or images corresponding to each protected area under scrutiny are reclassified multiple times using groundtruth data. Groundtruthing consists of visiting a point of interest, usually within the protected area, ascertained from preliminary satellite analysis. At this point, precise location is confirmed and reconfirmed via GPS positioning. Visual confirmation of whatever land cover or geological clues may also exist at that point is also taken into account. Thereafter, detailed observations of the terrain and cover from N, S, E, and W venues are collected (and digitally photographed). This information is then used in additional classification iterations of the satellite images at hand before the images are then analyzed for deforestation counts.
5) Continue conservation, development, and capacity building projects in and around Ankarafantsika.
Generations of scientists have been trained just to observe and strictly avoid any forms of interference within the systems where they work. To enclose one’s self into an ivory tower at the front lines of the global biodiversity crisis and merely observe is a luxury that we can no longer afford. The process of conservation occurs at a number of levels, from global to grassroots. It is at the finest of scales – in this case, the Ankarafantsika National Park - that the process of conservation both begins and ends. In Madagascar, Earthwatch scientists have implemented the first hand conservation reconnaissance they have gathered. Working at opposite ends of the island, Dr. Patricia Wright (Earthwatch Principal Investigator “Madagascar’s Lemurs”) and I have put our impressions to work for the benefit of the habitats we study. We have formed ecological monitoring teams of local people who work first-hand to save “their own backyards.” Both Ankarafantsika and Ranomafana National Parks will have centers for conservation, research, and training finished on-site within the next two years. We are making significant advances in learning from and preserving our research sites by taking first-hand knowledge of our respective areas and infusing the local populations with our same enthusiasm for protecting
10
Madagascar’s biodiversity, while simultaneously going face to face with park managers to make our voices heard. We are not simply gathering data for scientific publication. We are examining a conservation crisis with scientific scrutiny and mounting battles to protect Madagascar’s biodiversity.
The presence of our core team, accentuated by the presence of Earthwatch volunteers facilitates extraordinary conservation and development initiatives at Ankarafantsika. The following will discuss applications of our presence from multiple perspectives, including those of policy and research. The bullet points and discussion following them are all points of action conducted by our team and its individual members.
While our research on the fossa indirectly contributes to conservation and development, it is the impetus for our on-site presence. This presence facilitates our research and development initiatives. Year-round data collection leads team members to be on site year round when tracking animals. Infrastructural support for our teams – as supplied by local communities - gives a sustained, viable alternative to traditional environmentally-unsound practices. Without our research base, this additional work for the conservation and development of Ankarafantsika would not be possible.
4. APPLICATION OF RESULTS
Local Community Benefits
This project and its results have been shared with and have benefited the local communities in which the research is taking place in many ways. These include:
• Extensive biodiversity conservation education programs in local villages and schools;
• The founding of a village-based research camp, all proceeds from which enter into said community;
• The founding of a formal ecological monitoring team comprised exclusively of local citizens;
• The incorporation of seven Malagasy graduate students into research subportions of this project;
• The development of a domestic animal husbandry and veterinary health outreach (and vaccination) project;
• The creation of a fund to sponsor local students in continuing their education at national universities;
• The formalization and training of villagers’ activities/events to support future ecotourists to the area;
• Tented revival-style conservation “rallies” for fossa (and biodiversity) conservation;
• Providing an alternate, sustainable (non-destructive) employment base for ~50 local citizens;
• The development of a locally-staffed onsite Center for Conservation and Research Training.
11
Over the course of the last four field seasons, our team has grown in both size and breadth of activities. We arrived at the Ampijoroa Research Station in 1999 specifically and solely to carry out research on the ecology and behavior of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) and other carnivores in and around Ankarafantsika National Park. Since then, we have been successful in these pursuits and others, particularly as they apply in affecting the local communities in which our work is carried out. The depth and breadth of our projects in Ankarafantsika have been expanded to include additional research as well as conservation and development programs. Biological studies currently underway have been expanded to include several projects undertaken and conducted by Malagasy graduate students. Two have been completed and five more are underway in conjunction with an accord established between our research team and the University of Antananarivo. At the request of Park officials and following the immensely successful design for the development of Ranomafana National Park in southeastern Madagascar, we have also initiated a program with local villagers in training to become Ankarafantsika’s first ecological monitoring team.
In order to further promote conservation in and around Ankarafantsika, our teams spend a considerable amount of time year-round engaged in education and outreach on wildlife and habitat preservation in local villages. If villagers are nearby when fossa are captured and anesthetized, they are given the opportunity to look at and in some cases touch this top predator that is the basis of such large amounts of folklore and unfounded fear. In addition, local villagers, tourist guides, and schools are given training sessions on animal husbandry and ecology by the PI or permanent members of the field staff. These conservation messages are then passed on to visitors, colleagues, classmates, or friends in and around Ankarafantsika. In this way, we are encouraging a sustainable balance between Ankarafantsika’s wildlife and the human populations around the Park. Also in 2000, our field project co-sponsored a program to build a regulation-size basketball and volleyball court. This project, led by local Peace Corps volunteer Joe Paulin, was logistically and financially assisted by our field team and funded by Earthwatch and Conservation International. The courts have artwork and numerous conservation messages painted on them by a local artist. This court is regularly used by uniformed sports teams from throughout the region.
Celebrations involving the entire research team and open invitations to the entire Ankarafantsika community are held at the end of each Earthwatch team. Multitudes of local villagers from all around Ankarafantsika gather together with members of the field team and local officials in a spirit of friendly, open interaction. Several times each evening, all activities are halted for exercises involving all people present in which conservation messages are delivered and received. These celebrations provide excellent opportunities for dissemination of conservation education messages to local villagers. It is made very clear that these events, sponsored by the field team and Earthwatch are only made possible because of the group’s presence – and that presence is owed to the remaining local forests and preservation of the research animals contained therein. Conservation-based messages such as those mentioned above were happily accepted by local villagers via this medium, exemplified by the common shout of “Arovy ny fossa!” (Save the fossa!), regularly used by villagers when greeting field team members and staff.
Several times weekly, our team members (students, researchers, volunteers, and veterinarians) visit villages in and around Ankarafantsika to conduct studies of domestic animals and their health status. During these visits, villagers receive assistance and education on animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. In addition, domestic animals may be spayed or neutered to help control the feral populations of cats and dogs. Finally, each animal processed receives an identification tag and rabies vaccination.
12
As a part of our shared vision for collaborative development, conservation, and research expansion in Ankarafantsika and the surrounding region, we have entered into a formal collaborative accord for the development of a Center for Conservation and Research Training (CCRT). The CCRT is being established within Ankarafantsika to serve as an educational and research center to be used in collaboration between educators, researchers, ANGAP trainees, students, and other relevant parties. It has been developed with the mission to promote more thorough research support and instruction for all agents of conservation, education, and research, including those active in the immediate region and throughout Madagascar. Facilities housed within this large center will include classrooms, laboratories, computing facilities, dormitories for medium to long-term researchers, meeting areas, work areas, large multi-purpose tables, and secure storage areas.
Such an undertaking is not possible without the collaborative efforts of many organizations, groups, and agencies. Those involved include Earthwatch, ANGAP, Conservation International, Duke University, ICTE/MICET, and the University of Antananarivo, among others.
Public Policy Benefits of this Project
Our work continues to contribute to the formation of public policy by:
• Providing consultation and assistance to the local and national park management authorities;
• Creating a long-term action plan for Madagascar’s science and technology policy development;
• Assisted with the process of upgrading Ankarafantsika to its current National Park status;
• Providing satellite analysis of conservation “problem areas” in Ankarafantsika and Madagascar;
• Consulting directly with foreign financiers (embassies) of regional management initiatives;
• Participating in priority-setting and management planning workshops;
• Formation of a collaborative management and development accord with park authorities;
• Agreement to develop a center for confiscated lemur husbandry and care on-site;
• Building of monitoring and fire towers within Ankarafantsika park boundaries.
Educational and Economic Benefits of this Project
Educational and business communities benefit from our work in many ways as well:
• National graduate student support and development;
• Local student educational support and financing;
• Formation of collaborative educational development accords with national universities;
• Formal agreement to develop and logistically support the park’s first ecolodge;
• Formal agreement to develop and logistically support a confiscated animal husbandry and tourism center;
13
• Development and training for local marketing initiatives.
To promote local business development, our team collaboratively established the Ambodimanga (“under the mango trees”) campsite. Entirely village-run with all profits being managed by the Ambodimanga village women’s group for further development, the Ambodimanga campsite can now easily support up to 25 tourists and researchers long-term and 40 for short-term junkets. Three national TV crews and three national newspaper / journalism teams have visited recently for footage, photos, and interviews promoting and advertising the site within Madagascar. This project is an open collaboration between members of our team and the villagers of Ambodimanga. This site provides an additional facility for housing ecotourists and researchers – with 100% of the proceeds raised delivered directly into the village. Via this exemplary and immensely successful project, local people are immediately reaping the benefits of preserving the forests around them.
In addition, our Conservation and Research Team has developed a series of folklore dances with the women’s groups of Ampijoroa and Ambodimanga. At these events, which can be put on with a half-day’s notice, a number of traditional songs and dances are performed by the women’s groups for ecotourists staying overnight in the Ampijoroa or Ambodimanga campgrounds. The profits from this one night’s activity is the equivalent of a month’s wages in other less- conservation oriented jobs available in the area. CCRT members have also helped test and critique the women’s groups “dress rehearsals,” helping them to further perfect their performances.
We are also working to promote local and national education in other ways. Conservation cannot be readily enacted, and the advance of a society as a whole cannot be achieved, without first ensuring that the populations targeted for conservation and development input are reaping the benefit of improved education. Our team is comprised mainly of University of Antananarivo graduate students gaining a valuable field perspective of conservation biology, equipping them with the necessary experience to make efficient and correct conservation decisions when they become agents and authorities of conservation in Madagascar in the very near future. In addition, our team has joined our sister development group (the Madagascar Ankizy Fund) in developing and inaugurating a number of new primary and secondary schools throughout the Mahajunga basin. Finally, an accord of scientific cooperation with the University of Antananarivo has been made by our team on behalf of Duke University.
The CCRT has conducted, developed, and funded a number of conservation-based commercial ventures within the villages of Ampijoroa, Ambodimanga, and Andranofasika. We also funded the construction of a glass-fronted display case at the Ampijoroa Station’s Welcome Center. Specific ventures include embroidery training by an expert from Antananarivo, textile and batik making, stuffed animal design and creation, hand-made postcard artwork, and simple jewelry fabrication. Each of these ventures has been successful in marketing the conservation wares produced, turning a sustainable profit for citizens in and around Ankarafantsika.
Local educational and business communities will benefit from the establishment of the planned zoological facility and visitor’s center currently under development on-site. Our field team actively assists ANGAP and the Department of Water and Forests in caring for, rehabilitating, and placing confiscated lemurs in credible zoos and educational centers. Recently, we have been responsible for the care and placement of one Eulemur mongoz (currently at the Madagascar National Zoo, Tsimbazaza), two Eulemur fulvus fulvus (currently at the Ivoloina Zoological Park), and one (Critically Endangered) Propithecus verrauxi coronatus (returned to the wild at the Antrema Special Reserve). Representatives of the Department of Water and Forests have requested our help in establishing, funding, building and managing a large-scale center for
14 confiscated animal rehabilitation and husbandry. This center will also be open to public visitors, promoting ecologically sound educational and business development in the region.
The educational and business community continues to benefit from our extensive media outreach programs. Conservation and research efforts are more easily sustained and facilitated when they are well-known and well-publicized. To increase both national and international exposure, a number of media resources have been recruited in collaborative projects to report on our team’s activities ongoing in Ankarafantsika. International film crews from Tierzeit (Germany), Leo Productions (France), Survival Anglia (UK) and National Geographic Television (USA) have visited and reported on our projects via film. International magazines Terre Sauvage, Discover, International Wildlife, Earthwatch, and Forbes have covered our Ankarafantsika projects in print. National TV crews from RTA, MaTV, TVM, M3TV have covered our activities via National TV news. Finally, numerous articles (including 3 front page) on our projects have appeared in L’EXPRESS, the leading national newspaper.
Ongoing and Future Data Collection and Benefits
With continued support from Earthwatch, those already received, and those likely to be obtained independently, our project has the following deliverables in the upcoming 1-2 years:
• Bungalows for the Ankarafantsika Center for Conservation and Research Training (CCRT) are being built approximately 1 km away from the campsite (as of April 2004). This structure is to be used exclusively as a base of research (carnivore projects and others) operations and conservation training for Ankarafantsika and Madagascar as a whole.
• We will continue ecological monitoring of all animal species at Ankarafantsika, with specific focus on carnivores and their prey.
• We will continue to expand on-site research, conservation and development activities for the indefinite future including the Earthwatch team and several Malagasy graduate students.
• It will produce a series of high quality scientific papers. A habitat risk analysis for Ankarafantsika and other Madagascar Integrated Conservation and Development Projects, using satellite image analysis, is in its final stages.
Continued long-term presence of our established field team will continue ongoing research pursuits and continue to provide logistical support to other projects otherwise unable to initiate or continue work in the Ampijoroa Station and surrounding areas. New and established projects incoming to Ankarafantsika already facilitated/assisted by the Nicholas School of the Environment & Earth Sciences, Duke University team include a complete Madagascar primates population genetics project (Henry Doorly Zoo), a Microcebus behavioral ecology project (Hannover Primate Group), studies examining the impacts of forest fragmentation on primates in the region (SUNY @ Stony Brook), and long-term analysis of regional habitat trends and their effects on primate populations, using remote sensing (Nicholas School, Duke University), among others. In addition, we have entered into a regional research and conservation development accord with the Madagascar Ankizy Fund and Dr. David Krause to promote research and development in the Mahajunga Basin, using Ankarafantsika as the flagship for these efforts. Additional conservation development activities are continuing and extending in many forms as well.
Ongoing ecotourism programs have been expanded to include additional aspects. The ecotourism potential for Ankarafantsika has increased exponentially in the last few years and has the potential for much more expansion. International and local mass media will continue to be used in encouraging additional tourists to the area. Facilities continue to be upgraded in a
15 collaborative effort involving local citizens, the Earthwatch Research Team, Madagascar authorities, and commercial interests. Ongoing conservation education efforts continue to be applied and expanded on a local, island-wide, and international level. Finally, additional conservation interests are being recruited to collaborate with us in continuing to assist in managing Ankarafantsika for effective conservation and development.
The additional deliverables of our ongoing plan include:
• Deforestation monitoring using remote sensing, including an island-wide comparison of ICDP success and carnivore habitat conservation;
• Facilities construction/improvement and research support staff in place – additional research support and logistical assistance;
• Continued development of ecotourist activities benefiting the local community;
• Place a hotel on site in Ampijoroa. We have permission to exclusively develop this initiative from the Department of Water and Forests;
Lay the groundwork for constructing a primate husbandry and rehabilitation center on-site (a duplicate of Ivoloina) at Ankarafantsika. We have received permission and a land grant on-site to realize this project, requested and initiated by the Department of Water and Forests and to be developed exclusively by the Dollar/Earthwatch/CI/Nicholas School, Duke University team, in conjunction with Madagascar Faunal Group representatives.
5. FIELD TRAINING
In addition to lectures on the methodologies to be applied in the field (such as trapping and data collection techniques), volunteers receive instruction (via both formal lectures and informal discussion) from several different staff members and guests on as many of the following topics as possible (initials of staff member leading discussion in parentheses):
1) General conservation biology and trends (LJD) 2) Carnivore conservation biology in and beyond Madagascar (LJD) 3) Primate conservation biology in and beyond Madagascar (SLP/LJD) 4) Ecological monitoring techniques; including remote sensing/satellite imagery (LJD) 5) Carnivore and lemur behavior (Senior Staff) 6) The relevance of field studies for applications on captive populations (LJD/JP) 7) Lemur capture, handling, and processing techniques (LJD/JP/LPR/SD) 8) Carnivore capture, handling, and processing techniques (LJD/JP/LPR/SD) 9) Primate evolution with specific concentration on lemur evolution (LPR) 10) Carnivore evolution with specific concentration on the Malagasy carnivore enigma (LPR) 11) The use of genetics in ecology and evolutionary biology (LJD/SLP/CB) 12) Malagasy language lessons (LPR) 13) Local conservation and development activities (Senior Staff, Peace Corps) 14) Malagasy history and culture (LPR) 15) GPS methodology (LJD/JP/LPR/SD) 16) Radiotelemetry technology and techniques (LD/LPR/JP/SD)
16
Volunteers are also encouraged to share their own special experiences and expertise with the rest of the group in these informal discussion sessions.
6. VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS
Earthwatch volunteers are responsible for assisting the PIs and staff with the checking of traps for captured animals and collection of radiotelemetry data, among other activities. During the active trapping phase of the project the traps are checked twice daily for 10 consecutive days by a sub- team of volunteers and a staff member. Earthwatch volunteers also assist in the handling, tranquilization, measuring, marking, collaring, and release of study animals. They will also assist in the tracking of radiocollared animals using radiotelemetry and GPS equipment. Finally, volunteers also have the option of exploring into extended, more remote parts of Ankarafantsika National Park with a staff guide to conduct ecological and ground truthing surveys in the less well-studied and unsurveyed forests beyond the Ampijoroa station area. These extended-range ecological surveys are similar to those that members of the trap teams conduct when censusing prey species encountered during the regular trap checks. The project will use live chickens in the traps. Volunteers are also responsible for the daily feeding of the chickens.
Individual volunteers or small subgroups of volunteers will be assigned on a rotating basis to trap checking teams and radiotelemetry teams. Radiotelemetry teams will rotate in 12 hour shifts, 24 hours per day. One team member will be responsible for the establishment of signal bearings and the state of fossa activity, with the other volunteer acting as a (quite busy) scribe. A significant concern when using radiotelemetry is the amount of bias or error that any given data collector may have as a result of his or her collection techniques. The staff members for the project have worked together over a period of years to normalize their telemetry data collection techniques and minimize the degrees of error that invariably do occur in signal triangulations. Volunteers will undergo training in these techniques and be subject to confirmation of their skill before engaging in data collection.
Volunteers will not receive training in anesthesia for the sake of animal safety. For example, non- medically-prequalified volunteers will not be responsible for darting or blood collection from study animals but are strongly encouraged to be close observers during these activities. Volunteers are, however, expected to participate in the processing of both domestic and wild carnivores in all other ways possible. For example, volunteers will actively participate in the handling, processing, and monitoring of anaesthetized animals.
Skills and talents that might be particularly helpful, but certainly not necessary, will include veterinary, botanical, or other field experience. Knowledge of French or Malagasy is helpful but is not required, as most staff members are bi- or trilingual.
17
7. PROJECT STAFF
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Luke Dollar Age 30 Graduate student pursuing Ph.D. at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment Program in Ecology. Research Associate, Duke University Primate Center; Founder, Carnivore Conservation and Research Trust. Research specialties include: Carnivore Ecology, Principal Investigator (PI) for ongoing study of Cryptoprocta ferox in Malagasy rainforests, co-PI Carnivore trapping survey (Ranomafana National Park), PI for ongoing study of carnivore niche separation in Madagascar. Responsibilities: principal investigator/project co-director, field logistics, site pre-selection, animal tranquilization, staff assignment, site medic (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician). Will be on site for all teams.
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Stuart Pimm Doris Duke Chaired Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Project Advisor for the Carnivores of Madagascar Earthwatch Program. Author of more than 150 Academic Papers and four books. Research specialties include: endangered species conservation, global issues of biodiversity loss, ecological restoration. Project responsibilities include: co-principal investigator/project co-director, advisory guidance, conservation and educational development advising. May be on site during one of the three teams.
HOST COUNTRY STUDENTS
Leon Pierrot RAHAJANIRINA Malagasy Master’s Graduate in Animal Biology Field Research Director Will be on site for all teams.
Radosoa Andoniaina ANDRIANDIVOARIVELO Malagasy Graduate Student in Animal Biology Studies focusing on the epidemiology and health education on the Malagasy carnivores. Will be on site for all teams.
Harilala RAINITOVO Malagasy Graduate Student in Animal Biology Studies focusing on local human populations’ relationship with biodiversity. Will be on site for all teams.
18
Our team consists of some of the finest student researchers in all of Madagascar. These students are a very important part of this research, education, and development project. They are fluent in English, so make sure you spend as much time as possible learning from them about their work, backgrounds, and special perspectives on their wonderful home country.
Malagasy graduate students use various aspects of this project as the basis for assisting/completing their D. E. A. degrees (equivalent of a Master’s degree). These students have worked with the PI on previous projects and are all trained in all aspects of this project. They will work with the research teams and remain at the sites after completion of the initial survey to conduct long-term studies of the behavioral ecologies of the carnivores trapped and marked by Earthwatch volunteers. Other staff include Frederick Jean RANDRIANSOLO, local student and charter member of the Ankarafantsika Ecological Monitoring Team.
ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Rudy van Aarde, Ph.D. Director, Conservation and Ecology Research Unit, University of Pretoria. Research Project Collaborator focusing on the taxonomy of the Madagascar wild cats. Research specialties include: African wild cat taxonomy, park management for species populations, elephant ecology. Rudy first visited our field site in 2000 to help determine the taxonomic status of our newly found wild cats. He has since organized the collection of more than 50 African wild cat samples for comparison in our study to elucidate the placement of these Madagascar wild cats. He has studied the African wild cat for more than 30 years. Will be stationed in South Africa during the 2004 field teams.
Lt Col Robert Powell, USAF (Ret) Global Information Systems/Remote Sensing Advisor Project Adjunct for the Carnivores of Madagascar Earthwatch Program Expert in the application of remote sensing and the implementation of effective conservation strategies. Research specialties and project responsibilities include: scientific computing, satellite imagery analysis, and mathematical ecology. Works directly with the Principal Investigators to implement and integrate these technologies into the research program. Bob will consult with the field team via satellite communications during the 2004 field season.
Dr. Julie Pomerantz, DVM Field Veterinarian and Epidemiological Researcher. Research Project Collaborator focusing on the diseases of the Madagascar fauna. Research specialties include: veterinary medicine, epidemiology, field laboratory techniques, anesthetization and surgery. Parasite samples will be collected and serological surveys will be conducted to determine the incidence of several infectious diseases among the domestic and endemic carnivore populations. Of particular interest is Toxoplasmosis, a pathogen vectored by cats, which has had significant deleterious effects upon endemic wildlife in other regions and on captive populations of Malagasy mammals. Will be on site full time throughout all teams.
19
Shaun Dunn American Graduate Student and Field Assistant Research Focusing on Malagasy Carnivore Natural History Shaun is working with the project for a second year. His field assistantship in 2001 and 2003 has evolved into his own graduate study as a subdivision of the Carnivores of Madagascar project in 2004.
Chris Golden American Undergraduate Student (Harvard University) and Field Assistant Conducting a summer internship. Chris is visiting the project for a third time. His first experience with us in Madagascar was in 1999. Will be on site for all teams. Chris directs the environmental education programs being held at the nearby Andranofasika Primary School.
Anna Stark
American Graduate Student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Field Assistant She is joining the team for the first time in 2004. Anna will also be conducting a project-related survey of habitat fragmentation and its effect on primate populations in the area.
Jodie Lapoint
American Graduate Student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Field Assistant Jodie will also be conducting an interview-based survey of the local populace to estimate management effectiveness and create conservation strategies for future efforts. Will be on site for all teams.
Tamara Gagnolet, Katie Wolff, Florian Menzel, and Reuven Eltrop
American Graduate Students at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Field Assistants
STAFF
Additional staff will include up to seven additional, experienced Malagasy graduate students and foreign research assistants and approximately twenty full-time on-site cooks/guards/logistical assistants from the local villages of Ampijoroa and Ambodimanga, with whom the PI and team have worked for several years.
20
FIELD LOGISTICS
8. RESEARCH AREA
The weather at the Ampijoroa Research Station from May-August is some of the most conducive to fieldwork. Although quite warm at midday (30-35° C/80-90°F), the heat is not stifling and humidity is low. Skies are almost always a bright, clear blue and it seldom rains. The weather is most pleasant in early morning and late afternoon, which is when our trap checks will occur. The temperature can drop into the high 40s°F or low 50s°F (5-10°C) at night.
Ampijoroa is located directly on the Route Nationale 4, approximately 120 km (2 hours) south of Mahajunga, so access is quite easy. Mahajunga (interchangeably spelled Mahajanga, Majunga, or Majanga) is a major port city and is serviced by year-round daily flights from Antananarivo (commonly known as Tana). Tana is serviced by several international airline carriers such as Air France, Air Mauritius, and Air Madagascar via many cities, including Cairo, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Paris, and London.
Ampijoroa is the Research Station Area serving the 135,000 hectare Ankarafantsika Protected Areas Complex, one of the last and largest tracts of dry, deciduous forest in Madagascar. The flora and fauna of Ankarafantsika are quite rich. Flora includes tall baobob trees, stands of precious woods such as palisandre, and many species of terrestrial and epiphytic orchids.
Ankarafantsika boasts seven lemur species, including the beautiful, acrobatic Conquerel’s Sifaka (Propithecus verrauxi conquereli) and rare Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz), which is found in no other protected area. Among the nocturnal lemur species at Ankarafantsika are the Woolly lemur (Avahi sp.), the Sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi), and the Mouse lemur (Microcebus sp.). All of these lemur species are included in the diet of Madagascar’s largest predator, the main study subject for this project, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). The diet of the fossa may also be comprised of many of the more than 100 bird species found in Ankarafantsika, as well as a number of reptile and amphibian species, including the Leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sp.).
Volunteers will need to be especially vigilant for large Nile crocodiles when near the lakes of Ampijoroa. Also found in these lakes are three species of freshwater tortoise, including the endangered Rere.
The Ampijoroa Station Area has more than 20 km of well-marked trails on several different circuits that can be explored with one of the station guides during free time. Volunteers will need to remember to always have water with them and drink at least two liters daily to combat dehydration in this warm, dry environment. Water filtration tanks will always have drinkable water available. Volunteers should plan on dressing for warm weather (shorts and t-shirts) during the day, but have warmer clothing (sweats/pullovers or polarfleece, for example) for the cooler night hours.
Volunteers will stay in tents at designated tent sites. The station also has running water, generator-driven electricity, showers, and drop toilets and is situated in a clearing surrounded by large, shady mango trees.
21
9. TRAVEL PLANNING
Visa Information US, EU, Japanese and Australian volunteers will be required to purchase tourist visas for entry into Madagascar. Visas may be purchased upon entry into Madagascar at the airport and cost approximately US$30. Visas may also be purchased in advance from the nearest Malagasy embassy or consulate. Citizens of other countries should check with their travel agent or a visa agency for specific visa and entry requirements. A useful website for visa requirements is: http://www.embassyworld.com
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about visas:
What kind of visa do I need?
Earthwatch volunteers, who require a visa for entrance, will need a tourist visa. The Principal Investigator/researcher will have the research permit or permission for the project.
How do I obtain a visa?
You can obtain a tourist visa by contacting the Embassy or Consulate of the country to which you are traveling. If you choose to obtain a tourist visa by directly contacting the country’s embassy, please be sure to leave plenty of time, at least 6 weeks. If you have less than 6 weeks or wish to save yourself trouble, we strongly recommend using a visa agency, which can both expedite and simplify the process. The average cost of a visa is approximately US$40--$100 but varies country to country and can potentially cost up to US$180. A visa agency will charge an additional fee (depending on the amount of time it takes to process the application), which you can inquire about directly.
What information do I need to provide?
You will need to send your passport, an application form, 2 to 4 passport-size photos plus payment to the embassy or visa agency (if applicable) at least 6 weeks in advance of departure. Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay.
What do I write on the visa application form as the “purpose of my visit?”
The purpose of your visit is for vacation, holiday, or travel. Foreign immigration officials do not always understand the concept of a “working vacation” or even “volunteering.” Words such as “working/volunteering,” “research” or a “scientific expedition” can raise questions concerning the country’s foreign labor laws and/or prompt questions about official scientific research permits and credentials, etc. to which volunteers on their own will not be equipped to respond. All required research permits for the project are in place and have been approved by the proper authorities.
What do I write on the immigration form as the “purpose of my visit?”
The purpose of your visit is vacation, holiday, or travel.
22
What should I write for the place where I will be residing?
List the address of the hotel or project accommodations where you will be staying.
Where can I find more information on visas?
Please see “Helpful Resources” for several web site links related to the visa process.
Visa Agencies
IN THE UNITED STATES
Passport Visa Express.com 1911 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 503 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: 888 596-6028, +1 703 351-0992 Fax: +1 703 351-0995 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.passportvisaexpress.com/
IN EUROPE
The Visaservice Tel: +44 (0) 20 7833 2709 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7833 1857 Website: http://www.visaservice.co.uk
Thames Consular Services Ltd Tel: +44 (0)20 8995 2492 Fax: +44 (0)20 8742 1285 Website: http://www.visapassport.com
Travel Agencies The following agency is familiar with Earthwatch projects and can assist you in making travel arrangements and booking hotels:
FOR US VOLUNTEERS
Please call your Expedition Coordinator to inquire about recommended travel agents for your project.
FOR EUROPEAN VOLUNTEERS
Wexas International London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7581 8761 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7581 7679 Email: [email protected] Quote code: EWE01/02
23
STA Travel Oxford, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1865 792800 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 792911 Email: [email protected] Quote code: EWE01/02
For discounted student and youth fares, we recommend the following agencies which specialize in student discounts:
STA Travel U.S.: 800 781-4040 U.K.: +44 (0) 1865 792800 Website: http://www.statravel.com
FOR AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS
The recommended travel agent is familiar with Earthwatch projects, is in contact with the Australian Earthwatch coordinators and gives a discount where possible to Earthwatch volunteers. She is able to organise travel and travel insurance for volunteers Australia-wide.
Carlene Harlock Shop 2, 250 Flinders Street Melbourne, Vic 3000 Tel: +03 9663 6266 Fax: +03 9663 5100 Email: [email protected]
If you notify your Earthwatch Coordinator prior to contacting this travel agent, your rendezvous information will be forwarded.
Cancellation Insurance We highly recommend trip cancellation insurance which will help cover your airfare if you are unable to travel, or the expedition is cancelled. Earthwatch does not reimburse airfare or costs associated with cancelled flights. Contact your nearest Earthwatch office for details on cancellation insurance.
Other Advice / Information Local Currency: Malagasy Franc (FMG). The Socimad kiosk at the Antananarivo airport generally offers the best exchange rates. Euros are the best currency to bring but US dollars and pounds sterling are also easily exchanged.
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz. French-type plug.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +3.
Volunteers Under 18 Years of Age In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not
24 present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.
In addition, airlines may also have documentation requirements for unaccompanied minors. Parents of minors are responsible for checking with each airline that their child will utilize to insure sufficient documentation. This could include a copy of a birth certificate or a notarized letter stating that the minor has his or her parent’s permission to travel alone.
10. ITINERARY
There are no group excursions or days off planned during the team but if volunteers need to rest for a day or half day, they can pace themselves and select a time for resting, as all activities are staffed via volunteer sign ups (but no activity will go undone).
DAY 1 Rendezvous in Mahajunga. Welcome beverage at a local restaurant, name exchanges, etc. occur briefly here. Transport via chartered vehicle to research site, 120 km south of Mahajunga. After brief “settle in” time for tent site selection/dormitory assignment, precursory unpacking, etc., Earthwatch volunteers will get their first “meal in the field” of traditional Malagasy fare consisting mainly of rice. During meal time, all team members will introduce themselves to one another once again. First formal lecture held this evening.
DAY 2 Volunteers will rise for a later breakfast and morning team- building/familiarization session (continued from the previous evening) in which the project and its goals (among other topics) and how these relate to volunteers’ expectations will be further discussed. Volunteers will have their first tours of the surrounding forest, particularly the trap grids and radiotelemetry stations. Traps will have already been placed in prebait mode and will now be unlocked to begin active trapping this evening. Dinner in camp with discussions of overall itinerary, review of the next few days’ activities, and delegation of projects for the next day’s work. A focused discussion of carnivore capture and processing protocols will be led by Luke.
DAY 3 Earthwatch volunteers and staff members will pair off or group into small teams for today’s activities. Active trapping checks will be initiated with the morning trap system check. Dinner will be followed by a standard debriefing, group building activity, language lessons, and discussions of trapping, capture, handling, and processing protocols. Active trapping will be in effect for the next ten days, from days 3 – 12, starting with the trapline check conducted this afternoon.
DAY 4 Active trapping is now in effect. After the morning trap check, Earthwatch volunteers will receive a lesson on radiotelemetry techniques, followed by a “hide and seek with the radiocollar
25
game.” The losing team has to buy drinks for the rest of the team!
Days 4 – 12 see following section for detailed schedule.
DAY 12 During the afternoon, final preparations for tomorrow’s departure will be made. Special dinners prepared by the Ambodimanga Women’s Coalition followed by a presentation of Dances Folklorique and an informal “conservation celebration.”
DAY 13 Finish packing followed by morning transport via chartered vehicle to Mahajunga. Volunteers will be delivered to the hotel or to the airport to meet the flight to Antananarivo.
Volunteers should consult a travel guidebook for information on local attractions. See "Helpful Resources."
11. DAILY SCHEDULE
Volunteers should be aware that schedules can and do fluctuate. Weather and work conditions can affect the daily schedule. Should this situation arise, your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.
0530-0600 hrs Breakfast
0600-1000 hrs Morning trap check and change of radio-tracking team(s)
1000-1200 hrs Animal processing/monitoring, lecture, or other activity (for volunteers not at a radio-tracking station)
1200-1300 hrs Lunch
1300-1400 hrs Siesta (too hot for anything else!)
1400-1700 hrs Animal processing/monitoring, lecture, or other activity (for volunteers not at a radio-tracking station)
1400 hrs Second daily trap check
1900-2000 hrs Dinner
2000-2200 hrs Change of radio-tracking team(s) (Individual EW volunteer participation on the “red-eye” shift is optional)
Radiotracking of study animals will be ongoing after attachment of radiocollars. Earthwatch volunteers sign up for 12-hour rotating shifts of radiotelemetry work. Trap checking teams coordinate with the radiotelemetry teams twice daily to conduct location identifications using three-receiver triangulation. The 24-hour-a-day team’s data is be used to assess activity pattern. The locations taken twice daily by three radiotelemetry teams is compiled for the analysis of the home ranges of study animals.
26
In addition, volunteers also assist with the monitoring of tranquilized animals as they recover from drug effects. Times for this monitoring may vary with times of capture and species differences.
12. TEAM DEVELOPMENT
This project encourages good team spirit. Meal times will provide opportunities for team interaction and development. The division into sub-teams for trap-line checks and optional morning and afternoon activities allows interpersonal development among continuously changing groups. Special seminars and lessons given by PIs, Malagasy graduate assistants, or invited guests will be given to large groups after meals and to smaller groups during non- trapping activity times. In addition, almost every aspect of this project requires teamwork on some level. For quiet time, however, volunteers can retreat to the refectory/their tents or take a leisurely stroll along the Park’s well-maintained self-guided trail systems.
Cultural exchange is one of the most vital parts of building the foundation of a strong relationship that can work well for both local and foreign groups. We will live adjacent to a local village and interact with many local people on a daily basis. We will sometimes be invited to participate in village activities or ceremonies. Volunteer participation in these activities is an extraordinary privilege but will be on a voluntary basis. Incidences of cultural insensitivity will not be tolerated by the PI under any circumstances. Volunteers will discover that we are very welcome guests within a foreign culture. The cultural aspects of the project are generally a welcome surprise that make a significant impact on the high quality for field experience associated with this project.
13. ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations are on-site at the field site (less than 5 km from the nearest trap). Laundry is available for wash by local villagers 4 times per week at a nominal fee. Volunteers are encouraged to bring electronics if they wish. We have generator-driven electricity on site, convertible between 110V and 220V. AC/DC cigarette-plug converters (like used in cars) are advisable, as are a collection of international plugs (many plug types, including American and French available).
Volunteers will stay in individual tent sites near the Field Station. The sites have sandy bottoms and each is covered with a thatched roof. Tents will be provided. The Research Area also offers pumped running water, a couple of cold water showers (warm to hot by midday), generator- driven electricity with a limited number of outlets (no hair dryers, please), and drop toilets. Earthwatch volunteers are requested to bring their own sleeping pads and sleeping bags.
27
14. FOOD
A staff of cooks is on site to prepare meals. Most meals are prepared with rice, Madagascar’s main staple, as a base. Beans will be the most typical complement to these meals. Meat dishes are usually available (served separate from vegetarian fare) with most meals as well. Pasta and sauce-type meals are frequent but less common. Madagascar produces some of the finest dark, milk, and white chocolate in the world--these expensive treats are also available, but in limited amounts. Some special diets may be accommodated, within reason. Many meals will be vegetarian. Volunteers should also bring their own cache of special treats and snack foods (from granola bars to Gatorade) from home. There are a couple of small stores with a limited number and variety of items for private purchase (beers, cokes, etc.) at the Park entrance and in the local village. Sodas and beers are usually available for purchase from the cook-staff by volunteers (cold, pending ice block import and availability from a town 30 km away).
Here is a sampling of the foods you might expect in the field. Please bear in mind that variety depends on availability. This list is intended to provide a general idea of food types. It is very important that volunteers be flexible.
Breakfast: Usually a selection of rice, breakfast meats, pommes frites/french fries, omelets, local tea & coffee with cream and sugar
Lunch: Usually includes rice with beans, vegetables, at least 1 meat (fish, pork chops, chicken, beef, etc.), and dessert (usually fruits such as pineapples, mangos, or bananas). Condiments such as soy sauce and locally-made hot sauce (“sakai”). All dishes are presented separately so as to accommodate vegetarian palates.
Dinner: Similar to lunch, usually with an additional dish.
Snacks/Other: There are multiple “snack bars” within a 2-3km walk of camp. The project vehicle also regularly passes these snack bars on a daily basis.
Beverages: We have 3 large water filters with clean water available full time for volunteers. We also have an ice-chilled cooler with multiple soft drinks (Coke, Sprite, Fanta) and beer (Madagascar’s “Three Horses Beer”). Volunteers will need to pay for their own consumption of soft drinks and beer (organized by the village women’s group). Cost is approximately 7500 FMG per liter-sized bottle. This equates to just over one US dollar, or approximately 75 British pence. The local village has plans to buy a gas-powered refrigerator/freezer this year.
Special Dietary Requirements Note: Please alert your Earthwatch Expedition Coordinator to any special dietary requirements as soon as possible (e.g., diabetic, lactose intolerant, etc.). Accommodating any special diets is not guaranteed and can be very difficult due to availability, location and local conditions.
Special note to vegans and strict vegetarians: Please be aware that it is often difficult to accommodate strict vegetarians and vegans. It may be possible to get meatless meals but vegans
28 and strict vegetarians may have a problem avoiding animal products altogether. If this poses a problem, then participation on an Earthwatch expedition should be seriously reconsidered.
These diets can be accommodated within reason and with adequate prearranged notification. Most of the meals we share fall into all of the above categories (rice and beans). Tolerance of local customs and dietary habits is expected. Meats will also often be available with meals, but not necessarily mixed into the dishes so as to accommodate vegetarian palates.
15. PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
Please show this section to your physician when he/she is completing your health statement.
To the examining physician: Your patient has volunteered to join the field research team which has specific physical demands of which you and your patient should be aware. We need your accurate evaluation of your patient’s ability to meet the conditions detailed below in order to safeguard his/her health and safety, and ensure that s/he can participate fully and effectively.
Overview The physical requirements of this project may be very demanding. On Day 1 of each team, Volunteers can expect to hike around 30 kilometers (~19 miles); at least 15 kilometers (~9 miles) per day thereafter. A moderate-to-high level of physical fitness will be required in the daily checking of the traps. While the trap grid will most likely be very steep and sandy, volunteers checking the traps will travel along well established trails and there is no time limit in which each check of the trapline must be completed. Other activities, which will require only a moderate level of fitness, will include the stationary radiotelemetry shifts, data reduction/transcription, trail mapping, and camp maintenance.
Health concerns include parasites (giardia, etc.), malaria, and hepatitis. Volunteers should visit their doctor or a travel clinic well in advance of travel for a check-up and inoculations for travel to Madagascar. In addition, it is always a good idea to bring a supply of antibiotics, topical creams, sunscreen, etc. to the field, as these items will most likely not be available in rural Madagascar. However, the principal investigators are not medical doctors and can only make recommendations based on personal experience.
The lead PI is an experienced Emergency Medical Technician. A well-supplied emergency medical “jump kit” will be in camp. The closest hospital is in nearby Mahajunga. There are several vehicles and motorcycles at the Ampijoroa Station 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
General Conditions Humidity Low Temperature Range: 45°F/4°C to 90°F/32°C Altitude 384 ft/300 m to 3,281 ft/1,000 m Rainfall Virtually none expected
29
Climate and terrain of the research site Sandy soil, hilly dry forest conditions. Sometimes stifling heat at midday.
Physical Demands In a typical day, a volunteer will walk approximately 15-20 km (9-13 miles) in trap checking (walking distance reduced thanks to rides from the project vehicle) over slightly sloped (seldom greater than 10 degrees) sandy terrain. Radiotelemetry work is generally done from the comfortable tower rooms.
Workload/Intensity Time (hours per day)/#of days per team
Sitting 4-8 hours/day
Bending > 1.5 hours/day
Hiking 15-30 km (9-19 miles)/day 4-8 hours/day
Climbing Hills (not mountains) but sandy conditions, so it is more difficult for walking than hard soil
Walking
Carrying < 25 lb. When walking/hiking loads
Medical Conditions of Special Concern The following medical conditions should lead the physician to recommend that their patient be precluded from participation on this project:
• Difficulties in warm/hot weather and prolonged direct sunlight
• Difficulties with extensive walking and hiking
• Difficulties with prolonged interaction in a diverse group setting
Potential Hazards Scorpions are seldom seen on-site. Their bites are not fatal, but they hurt. There are no venomous snakes in Madagascar. Volunteers are asked not to venture closer than 30 m (100 ft) from the banks of Lake Ravelobe so as to avoid being attacked by crocodiles. Hazardous plants can cause severe skin irritation. Volunteers are reminded to use large amounts of sunscreen, wear a hat, and drink large quantities of water so as to avoid the detrimental effects of long-term work in direct sunlight.
Diseases which may be found in Madagascar include malaria, rabies, tuberculosis, plague, dengue fever, hepatitis, influenza, typhoid, cholera, and HIV/AIDS. Please see ‘Section 17’ below for a list of recommended inoculations. Risks from insect-borne diseases can be reduced with proper protection against insects. Schistosomiasis is found in freshwater; avoid swimming in lakes and streams.
30
Road conditions in Madagascar are generally considered fair to poor. Driving practices are different than in western nations; people often drive down the center of narrow roads and use the horn to signal approach. Volunteers will need to walk single-file when on roadways so as to avoid being hit by the oncoming, albeit light, traffic. Seat belts are not required in Madagascar.
Proximity to medical care Is there a physician, nurse, or EMT on staff? Yes
Staff certified in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) or First Aid? Yes
What is nearest hospital location? Mahajunga is 120 km away
Time to reach? approximately 2 hours
16. MEDICAL ADVICE
Inoculations The following are recommendations only. Health conditions around the world are constantly changing, so keep informed and consult your local travel health clinic, the U. S. Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or the World Health Organization (www.who.org) websites. Medical decisions are the responsibility of each volunteer. Please consult your physician, your local Public Health Department, or the resources listed below for the latest health information for travelers.
Required for Entry Recommended for Health Reasons
Polio X
Measles X
Tetanus X
Diphtheria X
Typhoid X
Yellow Fever *
Hepatitis A X
Cholera **
Rabies X
Influenza X***
*The yellow fever vaccine is required for any volunteers arriving from an infected area. There is no risk of yellow fever in Madagascar.
31
**Cholera is found in the research area, however the CDC does not find the cholera inoculation to be effective enough to recommend it.
***The WHO recommends influenza immunization because of an influenza outbreak which occurred in 2002. However, this outbreak occurred in Fianarantsoa Province in the south.
Is Malaria present at the research site? Yes
If yes, is the malaria chloroquine resistant? Yes
Tuberculosis (TB): The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one third of the world’s population is infected with the bacterium (M.tuberculosis) that causes tuberculosis (TB). Incidence of tuberculosis is higher in developing countries, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. In general, approximately 10% of persons infected with M. tuberculosis are at risk for developing active TB during their lifetimes. TB is considered highly treatable with medications that are of relatively low toxicity and cost. Volunteers returning from developing countries are encouraged to have a (PPD)-tuberculin skin-test to screen for potential infection.
These recommendations are for this project site only. Please consult your physician for guidance on inoculations if you intend to travel to other parts of the country.
Resources Earthwatch recommends that you consult your local public health department or one of the following resources for the latest health information for travelers.
US ONLY
Centers for Disease Control Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. Phone: 800 311-3435 or 888 232-3228 Website: http://www.cdc.gov
UK ONLY
Hospital for Tropical Diseases Healthline Phone: 0906 1 337733 (within UK) (calls are charged at 50p per minute)
MASTA Travelers’ Healthline Phone: 0906 8 224100 (within UK)
AUSTRALIA ONLY
The Travel Doctor – clinics Australia wide Travel Doctor Hotline: 1300 658 844 (within AU) Website: http://www.tmvc.com.au
GENERAL INFORMATION
Disease Outbreaks: http://www.who.int/disease-outbreak-news/
32
or http://www.istm.org/news.html
17. EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD
The PI is in continuous contact with satellite teams via hand-held radio. Should an emergency medical situation arise, standard EMS pre-hospital care procedures will be followed before evacuation from the site occurs. In addition, HAM radio contact will be made to any awaiting parties in Mahajunga or Antananarivo before departing the site. Mahajunga is the nearest city with international telephone facilities, but the PI will have a satellite phone available for emergency use. In the event of a severe medical emergency, the patient will be stabilized to the best of the available facilities’ abilities and then air-evacuated for any further medical treatment. Should the patient be unconscious or otherwise incapable of objectively evaluating his/her own medical needs, (as determined by the PI/EMT), standard implied consent procedures will be followed and decisions for treatment and evacuations will be the responsibility of the PI/EMT.
Emergency contact number at Earthwatch headquarters in the U.S.: +1 978 461-0081. After business hours, leave your message with our answering service. State that you have an emergency communication and leave a clear message with the name of the expedition, your name, location you are calling from, and if possible, a phone number where you can be reached. An Earthwatch staff person will be paged and will respond to your call.
International Evacuation Insurance
UNITED STATES OFFICE:
The travel medical and evacuation insurance, coordinated by ISIS Assistance, is mandatory for all Earthwatch volunteers while they are on an Earthwatch expedition anywhere in the world. The insurance covers volunteer travel medical risk, including medical expenses and medical evacuation, while you are traveling with Earthwatch overseas or on an expedition within your home country. ISIS Assistance will also facilitate evacuation from the project site in the event of an emergency. Without insurance, the costs of such measures can be on the order of US$20,000 to $50,000.
A detailed description of the Earthwatch Volunteer Travel Medical Insurance Program policy will be sent with this briefing. The policy is summarized in a user-friendly questions answer format. Please contact your Expedition Coordinator if you have further questions.
Earthwatch Institute’s insurance provider, ISIS Assistance, provides a 24-hour emergency hotline for the use of insured persons under the Earthwatch program. ISIS Assistance can help with medical emergencies, doctor and hospital selection, obtaining additional medical options, or medical translation problems. ISIS Assistance is backed by International SOS and Global Medical Management, who provide emergency medical evacuation and rescue services. The Earthwatch policy certificate number is US 011300. In addition, each individual policy is identified by the volunteer’s Earthwatch ID number, shown above your name on your team list.
In an emergency - If you are calling from outside of the US, the number to call is: +44 (20) 8762 8015. You may call this number collect.
33
In an emergency - If you are calling from inside the US, the toll-free number to call is: 888 422- 4747.
Basic coverage is valid in the country of your Earthwatch expedition, and during international travel to and from your expedition. For volunteers on Earthwatch expeditions in their own country, coverage begins when your group forms for the expedition, and ends when the group disbands. Options are available for volunteers who would like to extend the period of coverage, increase insurance amounts or purchase additional cancellation or baggage insurance.
EUROPEAN OFFICE:
Earthwatch Europe offers travel and medical insurance provided by Royal & SunAlliance. In the event of medical assistance or an evacuation being necessary, ISIS Assistance will be notified. ISIS Assistance will coordinate the evacuation in conjunction with International SOS.
FOR ALL OTHER VOLUNTEERS:
In addition, our affiliate offices in the Australia and Japan have recommendations for their volunteers. Please contact your nearest Earthwatch office for more information. You may also try the following website which lists several travel insurance providers. Click on the "Travel Insurance" link, which is located on the right in a box called "Healthy Travel Store" (just under the Visa sign). Website: http://www.travelhealth.com/home/
18. WHAT TO BRING
Note: Do not bring more luggage than you can carry and handle on your own. We recommend that you pack a carry-on bag with an extra set of field clothing and personal essentials in the event that your luggage is lost and/or takes several days to catch up with you.
While international baggage limitations may be lax, Madagascar’s internal and departing international flight baggage limitations are very strict and overweight baggage fees can be expensive. Volunteers should try to limit themselves to one backpack or duffle bag to be checked and a daypack for carry-on items. Weight limitations vary among flights, but 20 kg is a good maximum target weight for all equipment and supplies. This can be a challenge for some, but remember, the less you pack, the less you have to carry. My personal rule of thumb is to never pack more than I can comfortably carry for at least twice the length of a football field: if you can’t carry your gear from your parking space to the airport terminal by yourself, you’ve packed too much.
General Considerations In the forest, conditions can change rapidly and often. Volunteers should be prepared for temperature ranges from the low 40’s to the 90’s and for weather ranging from blistering sun to raining and cool, depending on the month of their expedition. In addition to raingear and polarfleece or other warm outerwear, volunteers should be able to layer their clothing to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. This is particularly relevant for nighttime radio shifts, when winds can really whip across the savannas where we have our tall radiotelemetry towers built. Most changes of clothes that volunteers bring should be limited to rugged fieldwear that they won’t mind being ruined during their expedition. Daywear for volunteers should consist of hot-
34 weather fare. You will most commonly see the PI in shorts, sandals or jogging shoes, and tee shirts.
Cultural Considerations We are guests living adjacent to a traditional Malagasy village. Conditions of life in the village may be primitive by American or European standards, but the Malagasy are a proud people. Pity is neither warranted nor deserved. When visiting homes in villages, volunteers are expected to accept any offerings of gifts or hospitality gracefully, as they have been offered with equal grace and pride. Finally, the local populace works extraordinarily hard to help our project succeed in many ways. A heartfelt “thank you” or “misaotra betsaka tompoko” is best way of expressing our gratitude for Malagasy hospitality. Intolerance of cultural or religious differences of Malagasy people and culture will be dealt with promptly and severely. We are the guests of Madagascar. The PI therefore accordingly expects gracious and appropriate behavior on the part of volunteers.
Required Clothing/Footwear for Fieldwork
• Light weight, quick drying, long-sleeved shirts and trousers
• Sturdy hiking boots with heavy-duty tread, preferably waterproof
• Hiking or wool socks
• Velcro / rubber sandals or other sturdy hiking sandals (i.e. Teva brand)
• Field clothing that can be layered including:
• Shorts and T-shirts
• Polarfleece anorak or warm sweater (it can get quite cold during night radio shifts!)
Clothing/Footwear for Leisure
• Trainers or comfortable sneakers may come in handy in camp (optional).
Field Supplies
• Small daypack/rucksack
• Drybag or plastic sealable baggies (good for protecting equipment such as camera from dust, humidity, and water)
• Insect repellent (like Repel outdoor formula) and mosquito net
• Water bottle(s) (1 or 2 litre containers)
• Headlamp, flashlights/torches (Mini-maglite, and Maglite recommended) with extra batteries
• Swiss Army knife or Leatherman-type tool. Be sure to pack in checked luggage.
• Compass 35
• Binoculars
• Hardbacked half-size data book with heavy-bond paper
Bedding and Bathing
• Sleeping pad
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow (a bag with dirty clothes also works)
• Towels/rags
Personal Supplies
• Personal toiletries (we recommend bringing biodegradable soaps and shampoos)
• Roll of toilet paper for 2 weeks use
• Antibacterial wipes or lotion (good for “washing” hands while in the field)
• Personal first aid kit (anti-diarrhea pills, antibiotics, antiseptic, itch-relief, pain reliever, bandages, moleskin, etc.) and personal medications
• Sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or higher
Miscellaneous
• Spending money (cash is generally the best form)
• Camera, film, extra camera battery
• Batteries (Lots of them, particularly AA, C, D….leave what you don’t use)
• 25-50 ft. Parachute cord or nylon rope for lashings, clothesline, etc.
Recommended: • Bandannas
• Sharpie brand markers and Pilot brand ball point pens
• Water purification tablets (optional, filter tanks are on site)
• Locks for bags and tents
• Mammals of Madagascar, Lemurs of Madagascar, and Birds of Madagascar field guides
• Waterproof watch incorporating countdown timer (to be used for radio telemetry)
• Snacks and favorite foods
• Small travel games (we have chess on-site) or playing cards
• Optional: Wine, scotch, cognac, or cigars for post-dinner lectures or socializing.
36
• For players: camping/hiking guitar or other small musical instruments
• Adaptor kit, AC/DC converter if applicable to you
19. HELPFUL RESOURCES
• Follow the activities of the Madagascar team via: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/madagascar
• Past volunteer website: http://sun.menloschool.org/~djensen/madagascar
• Embassy of Madagascar in Washington, DC: www.embassy.org/madagascar
• Useful Visa Information website: http://www.embassyworld.com
• Airport Codes Worldwide: http://www.logisticsworld.com/airports.asp
• Lonely Planet travel guidebooks and online travel site: http://www.lonelyplanet.com. Their guidebooks can be purchased from their website.
• The Rough Guide travel guidebooks and online travel site: http://travel.roughguides.com/
• Cheap Flights: http://www.travelix.com/ or http://www.discountair.com/ (worldwide)
• Country Reports. Country information from around the world. Website: http://www.countryreports.org
• National Geographic Map Machine. Website: http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine
• U.S. Travel Clinic Directory: http://www.astmh.org/scripts/clinindex.asp
• Travel Health website: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com is a resource for healthy travel. Covers country-specific risks and diseases, suggested immunizations, and health recommendation, and locating a travel clinic near you.
• U.S. State Department: http://www.state.gov/
• UK Foreign Office travel advice: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel
• World Time Server: http://www.worldtimeserver.com/ [time worldwide with GMT/UTC] or http://worldbuddy.com/ or http://www.hilink.com.au/times/
• Currency Converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
• Telephone Dialing From and To Anywhere: http://kropla.com/dialcode.htm
• Online Unit Conversions: http://www.onlineconversion.com/
37
• Worldwide Weather: http://www.worldweather.com/ or http://www.wunderground.com
• ATM Locator: http://visaatm.infonow.net/bin/findNow?CLIENT_ID=VISA http://www.mastercard.com/atmlocator/index.jsp
• Heat Index (temperature, dewpoint and relative humidity): http://www.weatherimages.org/data/heatindex.html
• Exhaustive List of Weather Resources: http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/wxnet/servers.html
• Third World Traveler – offers many links for useful travel information: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Travel/Travel_Links.html
20. THE READING LIST
Books Madagascar and Comoros, D. Swaney and R. Willox (Lonely Planet Publications) The Carnivores. R. F. Ewer (1973 & 1998, Cornell University Press, New York). Ecological Census Techniques. W. J. Sutherland (1996, Cambridge University Press, UK). Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity. D. E. Wilson, et al.. (1996, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C.). Madagascar and Comoros, 3rd Edition. Paul Greenway (1997, Lonely Planet Press, Australia). Natural Change and Human Impact in Madagascar. S. Goodman and B. Patterson, eds. (1997, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C.). Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, Volumes 1 and 2. J. Gittleman, ed. (1989 and 1998, Cornell University Press, New York). Key Environments: Madagascar. A. Jolly, P. Oberle, and R. Albignac, eds.(1984, Pergamon Press, Oxford). Madagascar. A Natural History. K. Preston-Mafham. (1991, Facts on File, Oxford). Lemurs of Madagascar. R. Mittermeier, I. Tattersall, W. Konstant., D. Meyers, R. Mast (1994, Conservation International, Washington, D. C.).
Magazines/Journal Articles “Rainy Days and Lemurs.” Luke Dollar (1995, Duke Magazine, North Carolina). “First Study of Cryptoprocta ferox in the Rainforests of Madagascar.” Luke Dollar et al.. (1997, American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Suppl. 24.) “Notice of Eupleres goudouti in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.” Luke Dollar (in press - due April, 1999 - Small Carnivore Conservation, Switzerland). “Preliminary Report on the Status, Activity Cycle, and Ranging of Cryptoprocta ferox in the Malagasy Rainforest, with Implications for Conservation.” Luke Dollar (in press - due April, 1999 - Small Carnivore Conservation, Switzerland). “The food habits of Cryptoprocta ferox in the high mountain zone of the Andringitra Massif, Madagascar (Carnivora, Viverridae).) Goodman, S. M., O. Langrand and B. P. N. Rasolonandrasana (1997, Mammalia, 61 : 185-192.).
38
“Predation on Milne-Edward’s Sifaka (Propithecus diadema edwardsi) by the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) in the rain forest of southeastern Madagascar.” P. C. Wright et al.. (1997, Folia primatologica, 68 : 34-43.). “A global perspective on large carnivore conservation.” W. Weber and A. Rabinowitz (1996, Conservation Biology, 10(4): 1046-1054.). “The small community of a dry tropical forest in central Thailand.” S. Walker and A. Rabinowitz (1991, Journal of Tropical Ecology, 8(1):57-71.). “Geographic variation in densities and diversities of non-flying mammals in Amazonia.” L. H. Emmons (1984, Biotropica, 16(3):210-222).
LITERATURE CITED
Albignac, R., 1973. - Mammifères carnivores. Faune de Madagascar. ORSTOM-CNRS, Paris et Antananarivo, Vol.21. Bookhout, T. A., 1994. - Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife and Habitats., The Wildlife Society, Maryland. Caughley, G, 1977. - Analysis of Vertebrate Populations., John Wiley & Sons, New York. Dayan, T. and D. Simberloff, 1994. - Character Displacement, Sexual Dimorphism, and Morphological Variation Among British and Irish Mustelids., Ecology. 75(4), pp. 1063-1073. Dollar, LJ (2000) Preliminary Report on the Status, Activity Cycle, and Ranging of Cryptoprocta ferox in the Malagasy Rainforest, with Implications for Conservation. Dollar, Luke J, Forward, Z., A., and Wright, P., C., 1997. - First Study of Cryptoprocta ferox in the Rainforests of Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Suppl. 24. Eason, T. H., B. H. Smith, and M. R. Pelton, 1996. - Researcher variation in collection of morphometrics on black bears. Wildlife Society Bulletin., 24(3): 485-489. Glander, K. E. et al.., 1992. - Morphometrics and testicle size in wild caught Malagasy lemur species. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 95 : 338-350. Jones, M., 1998 - Character Displacement in Australian Dasyurid Carnivores: Size Relationships and Prey Size Patterns., Ecology. 78(8), pp. 2569-2587. Kenward, R., 1987. - Wildlife Radio Tagging: Equipment, Field Techniques, and Data Analysis. Academic Press, London. Kohncke, M. and K. Leonhardt, 1986. - Cryptoprocta ferox. Mammalian Species, 254 : 1-5. Martorello, D., T. H. Eason, and M. R. Pelton, in press. - A sighting method for estimating population size of black bears. Wildlife Society Bulletin. Seber, G. A. F., 1982. - The Estimation of Animal Abundance and Related Parameters., 2d Edition. Macmillan Publishing Co., New York. Rabinowitz, A and B G Nottingham, 1990. – Mammal species richness and relative number of small mammals in a subtropical wet forest of Central America. Mammalia, 53(2): 217-226. White, G. C. and R. A. Garrott, 1990. - Analysis of Wildlife Radio Tracking Data., Academic Press, London. Wilson, D. E. et al.., eds., 1996. - Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity, Standard Methods for Mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. Wozencraft, W. C., 1989. - The phylogeny of the recent carnivora. Pp. 279-349. In : Carnivore behavior, ecology, and evolution. Ed.: J. L. Gittleman. Chapman & Hall, London. Zielinski,W. J. and T. E. Kucera, 1995. American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, and Wolverine: Survey Methods for Their Detection. United States Department of Agriculture and Forest Service, Washington, D.C.
39