News from the Field

• Golden Frog Strategy Launched

  The Minister of the Environment and Forests officially launched the Golden Mantella Frog conservation strategy in a ceremony in Moramanga, on World Wetlands Day. The strategy was prepared by the Malagasy government, Madagasikara Voakajy and Conservation International, and sets out a series of goals and objectives for the next five years. The Golden Mantella frog is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and its remaining habitats in the Moramanga District are threatened by mining and deforestation.

• Extinction Risk Assessed for Malagasy Chameleons

  The conservation status of over 70 chameleons, plus another 250+ other lizard and snake species was assessed in a workshop organised by Madagasikara Voakajy and Conservation International from 24 to 28 January 2011. The workshop was facilitated by the IUCN and over 20 expert herpetologists took part. We are grateful to the Darwin Initiative, Conservation International and the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund for supporting the workshop.
  

• First results of our bushmeat surveys

  Although lemurs, tenrecs, bats, wild birds and  bush pigs are eaten by people in urban areas in western Madagascar, bushmeat contributed no more than 10% of the household meals reported during the study. Request publication.