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Bemaraha TsingyThe karst outcrops of western Madagascar have an important and distinctive fauna. We are working with ANGAP in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park to improve the conservation status of the reserve’s priority species and to increase the capacity of the guides. This three year project is funded by the Darwin InitiativeActivitiesStudies on reptile conservation and ecology: we are updating the species list for that park and collaborating with international herpetologists to describe new species to science. We are also improving the monitoring protocol for Brookesia perarmatai, a chameleon that is only found in the north of the park.  Surveying and monitoring bat populations: the park has a number of caves that are important bat roosts, including Anjohikinakina which has at least five different species. We monitor the occupancy and abundance of bats in 16 caves in the park and advise on best-practice management of the roosts.  Assessing habitat use in rodents:the park has a unique rodent fauna that has still to be fully descriibed by taxonomists. We are investigating the habitat use of tuftet-tailed rats.  Environmental education in schools around the park: this part of the work focussed on bats and forest conservation and involved primary schools in Antsalova and Bekopaka.  Training in biology and languages for park guides: the park's visitor numbers have grown steadily in recent years to about 6,000 per annum. Programme Bemaraha requested that we provide training to the guides. Classroom and field lessons were given on birds, bats and reptiles in addition to two longer advanced courses in Englsih and French.   |
