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Quarterly
Report from the Field: Betampona Reserve
July to September 2003
Charlie Welch,
Betampona Project Director, prepared this section in English,
to summarize the highlights of the report written in French by
Bernard Iambana and the agents.
I.
Released Varecia variegata variegata
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We are disappointed and saddened to report that on 25 September
2003, Hale was found dead near the 50m point on the Piste Fara.
It was estimated that she had been dead for several days. Although
the body cavity was open and all of the soft tissue organs had
been removed and eaten, none of the bones were broken nor were
limbs detached as in the previous cases when released Varecia
were killed by fosa. Nor was the base of the skull broken as in
previous fosa kills. The corpse actually resembled those of lemurs
of smaller body size (eg. Avahi) that we have observed predated
on by raptors in the reserve. However, we have never before observed
lemurs of large body size such as Indri, Propithecus, or Varecia
to be killed by birds of prey at Betampona. Hale could have died
of a fall and been scavenged by smaller carnivores afterwards.
Although we will never know for certain how Hale did die, I do
believe that we can say with reasonable confidence that she was
not killed by a fosa.
Hale's
two offspring from 2002 are fortunately unharmed and remain in
the same region. And although Hale's mate, wild male father to
the offspring, disappeared for a period of days after her death,
he did return and has been with the offspring since then.
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Tany and Masoandro remain in the same general area and are doing
well. Masoandro sometimes leaves the group for periods of time.
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Fara is also doing well and his collar continues to function properly.
He is still with the Sahambendrana group which sometimes divides
in two subgroups.
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Sarph is still in the north of the reserve and now inhabits a
large territory in the Vohitsivalana region with up to 5 wild
individuals. He remains difficult to find because of the expiration
of his radio collar battery.
II.1. Wild Varecia variegata variegata
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No unusual observations or remarks for the wild Varecia
II.2.
Indri indri
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The female in the northern group gave birth in August.
II.3.
Other Lemurs
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A Lepilemur was observed this period for the first time in several
trimesters.
II.4.1.
Amphibians
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All individuals of frog species found this period were young.
- Eggs and tadpoles were often observed near and in the rivers.
II.4.2.
Reptiles
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No Phelsuma madagascariensis were found during this trimester.
- Of each species of reptile found this trimester, young were
always observed.
- A pair of Lyodactylus miops were observed breeding.
II.5.
Birds
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A Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus rochii was observed this trimester - back
from African migration
II.6.
Other Mammals
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During this trimester tracks of fosa Cryptoprocta ferrox were
found frequently in the mornings on the main trail.
III.
Plant Phenology
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Monitoring of plant phenology and forest regeneration site continues.
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The vine bamboo species in the reserve is starting to set seed
and die back during this trimester.
IV.
Meteorology
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Above normal precipitation continues - total amount for Jan-Sept
2003 is at 2883.9mm.
V.
Student Projects
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Our DEA student Lala has finished his fieldwork this trimester
and is presently writing up. He hopes to defend his thesis before
the end of the year.
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In July, American PhD student Kellie Glasscock unfortunately became
seriously ill with malaria and had to leave Madagascar for treatment.
She has also found out that she is pregnant so that the continuation
of her doctoral research on Indri in Betampona is now in question.
We are however happy to report that Kellie recovered well and
she and her infant are fine. Kellie's field assistant Carl was
able to carry on some of Kellie's research observations after
Kellie's departure, so all was not lost.
VI.
Environmental Education
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During September, school visits were organized to Ivoloina by
Mr Fidelis, ANGAP Chef de Betampona, funded by a grant from the
Malagasy Tany Meva organization. The students spent a day at Ivoloina
and in addition to their zoo visit, they received a short environmental
education course from Mr. Randriambelona (MFG Environmental Education
Coordinator). The students came from 7 primary schools, all in
the peripheral area around Betampona. Each school group visited
Ivoloina separately and several of the groups stayed overnight
in the Parc's gite.
End
report summary in English.
The
above is an English summary of Bernard
Iambana's full report in French by Charlie
Welch.
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