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Quarterly
Report from the Field: Betampona Reserve
April through June 2002
Varecia
variegata variegata
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Kintana (male released 1/01), who had gone on a walkabout in the
northern part of the reserve, returned to his family group on
14 April.
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Radio collars had to be replaced for males Tany and Masoandro
(males released 1/01), as their antennas broke off.
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Hale (female released 1/01) has been spending much time with the
same wild male.
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Fara (1999-born offspring of Praesepa and Zuben ubi) is almost
always observed to be with wild male Rahona.
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Sarph (male released 11/97) is usually observed with wild female
Ando, and a wild male, still in the northwestern part of the reserve.
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The three families of the Sahabefoza group (wild), have mixed
during this period.
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Varecia calls have been heard from the Mahasolatra mountain area
to the east of Rendrirendry -- there have not previously been
Varecia in that area.
OTHER
LEMURS
An
unusual observation of an Aye-aye during a nocturnal inventory
in this period.
OTHER
MAMMALS
Total
number of mammals observed in this period was less than previous
trimester except for Galidia elegans and Salanoia concolor.
AMPHIBIANS
After
the big May flood, many types of amphibian eggs were found high
on the banks of rivers and streams.
REPTILES
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Most of the Phelsuma species observed in this period were young
(small). The same is true for individuals of Zonosauris brygooi.
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First observed Phelsuma madagascariensis of this period was not
until the end of June.
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A Brookesia superciliaris was found on a vertical branch at 2m
height, in the sunlight -- unusual for the terrestrial Brookesia.
TREE
NURSERY
Continued
the planting of native tree seeds in the nursery and planting
out of seedlings in the reforestation/demonstration plot north
of Rendrirendry.
METEOROLOGY
This
period was unfortunately highlighted by severe flooding caused
by tropical storm Kessiny in May. Although Rendrirendry measured
700+mm of rain over the three main days of the storm, the rain
gauge overflowed, so we will never really know exactly how much
rain fell at that site. What we do know is that in Tamatave 1000+mm
of rain was measured, and I would guess at least that much fell
on Betampona. The flooding was catastrophic, causing landslides
and washing away bridges and villages. The landslides in the degraded
areas surrounding the reserve were too many to even count -- devastating
for the human population. The road from Fontsimavo to Tamatave
is covered in many places by landslides, but most importantly,
the villages of Fontsimavo and Ambodiriana are completely cut
off by the loss of the bridge at Nosibe. To arrive at Rendrirendry
now requires a 15km walk. Since there was no wind with the storm,
the majority of the forest damage in the reserve was due to landslides.
English
summary of Bernard Iambana's full
report in French by Charlie Welch.
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