Report
from the Field: Betampona Reserve
January 2002
The third release group are adapting well and there is every reason
to be optimistic about their future. The young male (possibly wild
or possibly Zuben'Ubi and Praesepe's son) has become a permanent
member of the group. He is completely accepted and all individuals
have been observed interacting affiliatively with him. The group
are in good condition and beginning to extend their range. All were
hand captured (using the tried and tested banana method) this month
to be weighed and to have their tail shaves re-cut to aid identification.
All were maintaining weight: Hale - 3.3kg; Kintana - 3.2kg; Tany
- 2.7kg; Masoandro - 2.6kg. On the 18th the group celebrated their
one-year anniversary in the wild.
As
usual Sarph was always located with the wild female, Ando and
the young male, Ravaly, in the Vohitsivalana region. He appears
to be thriving. Fingers crossed for some breeding action this
year! He's wilder than the wild Varecia! Fara and Rahona
have extended their range somewhat, but remain not far from the
third release group. Both appear to be in good health, but unfortunately
Rahona has lost his coloured collar which could make future monitoring
difficult. In a few years time there is every chance that the
pair will breed.
This
month, with assistance from ANGAP we were able to confirm the
existence of a population of the entire-leafed tree palm, Marojejya
darianii, at Betampona. This is a very exciting discovery
as the species was previously known from only one unprotected
site near Maroantsetra. Eight mature trees (6 in fruit) were located
and numerous young plants indicating good regeneration.
We
managed to identify a number of frog and reptile species in this
last month. A rather attractive arboreal microhylid with plum
red markings at the insertions of the limbs was discovered --
presumed to be an unidentified Platypelis species. A further
chameleon species was found this month, Furcifer bifidus,
and it is certain there are others that we have yet to find.
To
close I would like to thank the MFG for giving me the opportunity
to work on this exciting project. My 4½ years at Betampona
have been a tremendous experience and I hope to be able to return
one day, to see the offspring of Sarph, Fara, Hale et al. leaping
through the forest canopy.
Adam Britt, 1 February 2002
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