Greetings from Madagascar!

Just wanted everyone to know that I got here safely after about 24 hours of traveling. I will update with more details soon. I do not have much time today though. We just stopped in an internet cafe quickly while running errands. We leave for the rainforest on Monday so the first full update may not come for another few weeks.

The beach in Sambava

Just a little over a week now until I start my journey and begin my work in Madagascar. I'll be spending the next seven days getting equipment together, packing, and saying goodbye to friends and family. I'll fly to Paris on June 30th then to the capital of Antananarivo after a short layover. This will be my final post from the states. I'll update from Madagascar as soon as I can find internet access.

Goodbye, au revoir, and veloma!

Antananarivo

Just for the sake of procrastination:

Marojejy National Park is located in northeastern Madagascar, between the towns of Sambava and Andapa. The park is centered around Marojejy Massif, a mountain chain that reaches 2,132 m (6,995 ft). Although it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007, illegal logging and trafficking of valuable hardwoods is on the rise since the political crisis of 2009. Deforestation is among the top threats for wildlife living in the park and throughout Madagascar. Since humans made it to the island about 2,000 years ago, all of Madagascar's large endemic animals have become extinct, including seventeen giant lemur species.

Marojejy Massif

 Perhaps one of the least studied and most threatened species today is Propithecus candidus, or the silky sifaka. It lives at some of the highest elevations in the heart of Marojejy National Park, making research on this species very difficult. It was not until Dr. Erik Patel began working at this site in 2001 that comprehensive studies increased our understanding of this rare prosimian. Simpona was subsequently started and has since taken on the responsibility of research, conservation, and education in the area.

In January 2012 Erik was hired to be the Post Doctoral Project Manager for Duke University Lemur Center's conservation program in the SAVA region. If you want to learn more about conservation and what Erik has been doing for the last ten years, watch this documentary: Angels of the Forest 

Propithecus candidus

Only two more months before I begin working for Simpona, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and conserving the silky sifaka. I'll be living in the SAVA region of northeastern Madagascar, spending most of my time conducting vocalization research in Marojejy National Park. Although I won't have access to the internet, I'll hopefully be able update every couple weeks when we travel to Sambava for supplies.

Pictured is the silky sifaka lemur, one of the rarest animals on earth, and among the top 25 most endangered primates.