New blog post over at Durrell!

New blog post over on Durrell's website about our recent publication; link below! We did the first amphibian survey in one of Madagascar's smallest protected areas, Ankafobe, and got some unexpected and exciting results. We used DNA barcoding to identify 14 species of frog, some of which are still to be formally described to science. …

The Wonderful Ankafobe and the Horrendous COVID19

After returning from my much needed VISA run / holiday it was time to prepare for my final 'new' site - and the second installment of seven weeks of field work. The preparations in Tana have become routine now; do the field food shop (aka stock up on cans of sardines, condensed milk, tea, snacks...), …

Doctors, lemurs and tarantulas – Anjozorobe

The day comes to head back to Anjozorobe but last night after my bucket wash my ear began to feel weird. A bit like it was full of water, like you used to get playing in the pool as a kid. I figured maybe it would come out over night whilst I slept, but the …

The best laid plans…

After a few days office work and ‘rest’ we set back off to the field. As required we visited the local authority office to explain what documents I need from them for exporting samples, and went to the local market to buy two weeks’ worth of food (35kg rice, 5kg dried beans, fresh fruit and …

After the rains & my social scientist calling…

The rain has finally stopped, after a gruelling 6 days. We donned our wet gear, and were treated to a spectacular first night back in the forest. The bridge we use to cross the swamp was totally submerged, and we saw a snake hanging out by the bridge so we quickly waded through the water. …

Tropical Depression

Fear not, I’m not depressed in a tropical climate. We have been in the midst of a ‘tropical depression’ for six days now, with three solid days of relentless rain. Camp, and the forest, is shrouded in a white blanket – visibility is very poor - and it is beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. …

First days back in the forest

It has been seven months since I was last here in Ambohitantely, but it literally feels like last month I was camping in the same spot, eating the same food, and walking the same transects. I’ve slotted right back into the routine of field work (and of rice and potato for breakfast), and it’s funny …

Back in Tana!

I’m starting my first blog back in Madagascar about the weather, but stay with me. The weather in Tana has changed since I was last here, I was welcomed by a cooler yet more humid environment and on my first day there was a huge storm, one that caused landslides and electricity cables to collapse …

How do you prepare to lead a four month research expedition?

It’s hard. There are so many things to think about when planning a research trip. Of course there is the organisation of your research; are your methods the best they can be? Have you ordered all of the equipment you need? Have you got all of the relevant paperwork and permissions (which involves about 1,000 …

Rural Madagascan Life

My main field site amazes me more each day. For such a highly fragmented and ridiculously isolated patch of forest it harbors so much wildlife. The herpetofauna, insects, botany and birds seem to be thriving. Wild orchids carpet the forest floor, giant spider webs fill the gaps in the vegetation and the brown lemurs, sifaka …