An update from Russell Thorstrom, Conservation Director of Madagascar and West Indies Projects:

“In late October, Lily-Arison Rene de Roland (Madagascar Program Director), Kavalah “Loukman” (Senior Field Technician), Jean Louis “Andry” Hiankinantsoa (Driver/mechanic), and I departed from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s bustling capital city. We headed to see the Tsimembo-Manambolomaty Protected Area (PA) in western Madagascar, which The Peregrine Fund helps manage. This site is composed of several lakes, is a RAMSAR site (a wetland of international importance), and was declared a national protected area in 2015. The drive to this site takes two full days from Antananarivo.

“It was 1995 when I last made this trip to The Peregrine Fund’s field camp, which lies on the shore of Soamalipo Lake. At the camp, the scenery is of the unique, pristine wetlands surrounded by a large dry forest. This area is managed by several local community associations, and they are assisted and supervised by Lily and the Madagascar Program staff. Lily states that ‘this is the best protected wetland in Madagascar.’ This site protects a substantial breeding population of the Critically Endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle as well as many other endemic and endangered species, ranging from fish to lemurs.

“On November 2, Kavalah Loukman and I each drove a motorcycle for one and half days to Bemenanvika Protected Area, a site in northern Madagascar managed by local community associations with support from The Peregrine Fund. This site is a mosaic of habitat types composed of mid-elevation rainforests, marshes, volcanic lakes, and grasslands. The motorcycle ride on the main route from Antananarivo to Antsohihy was an epic trip due to the broken asphalt and potholes, various road obstacles, local foot traffic, ox carts, Zebu cattle, and vehicles traveling at varying speeds

“Bemanevika is an extremely special place. The biodiversity here is a mix of species typical of both western and eastern eco-regions of Madagascar. One can find the rare and Endangered Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Madagascar Red Owl, and the Vulnerable Henst’s Goshawk (Lily’s favorite bird) in the rainforests, the Endangered Madagascar Marsh Harrier that nests in the marshes, and one of the rarest birds in the world, the Critically Endangered Madagascar Pochard, a diving duck that was rediscovered by Lily and team in 2006. After spending two enchanting days at this site, it was time to head back to Antananarivo to catch the flight back to Boise, Idaho, USA.”