Report
from the Field: Betampona Reserve
October 2001
Nocturnal surveys provided an excellent view of a Phaner furcifer
allowing full description of pelage and markings, a new snake species,
Stenophis betsilianus and two new frogs, Boophis luteus
and Plethodontohyla notosticta.
The
third release group (Hale and her sons Kintana, Tany and Masoandro)
has shown no difficulty in finding sufficient fruit -- the fruits
of Eugenia spp. are particularly abundant this year. Supplementary
feeding for this group was stopped on 17 October. All the releasees
appear to be in good health. The group have maintained or increased
weight since supplementary feeding was stopped on the 17th. The
group remained cohesive until provisioning was stopped. After
this they began to split up to forage, although usually coming
together to sleep. The group continued to select high sleeping
sites at night, but often rested below 5m during the day. By the
end of the month they had split into two sub-groups -- Hale &
Tany and Kintana & Masoandro. The group continued to make
good use of all canopy levels, but also continued to make more
use of the ground than is observed for wild Varecia.
The
collection of opportunistic observations on habitat use and group
size and composition is continuing for all diurnal lemur species
as is the study of niche separation in Phelsuma. Reptile and frog
survey work is continuing. An undergraduate student from the Ecole
Normale of Antananarivo, Randria, arrived on 27 October. He will
be carrying out a 4 week project on the use of medicinal plants
by local people
It
is encouraging that it has been possible to cease provisioning
and that the third release group are exhibiting no difficulty
in finding sufficient fruit. Whilst it is disappointing that Sarph
appears not to have bred, there is good reason to be optimistic
that he will in time. It is interesting that the third release
group have begun to split to some degree. This could facilitate
integration with the wild Varecia, especially as some of
the Sahabefoza group are beginning to range closer to the release
area.
Adam Britt, 1 November 2001
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