Mapping Velondriake
Raj (from the BV head office) is currently conducting GIS field research in Andavadoaka to map the coral reefs of Velondriake. The aim of the trip is to produce a habitat map of the Velondriake Marine Protected Area Network, for...
Two Blogs this week!!
The first comes from volunteer, Monika Calitz: Week one of Blue Ventures Expedition no. 36 was exciting – filled with activities and experiences. After three days on the road through the wonderfully diverse landscape of Madagascar we arrive in Tulear....
Bid on eBay – support the School Scholarship Fund!
Please help raise money for the Andavadoaka School Scholarship Fund. A past volunteer, Catherine Petronino (Expedition 15), is currently hosting 3 eBay auctions on behalf of students from the “College Sainte Famille” in Andavadoaka. The students are selling hand-embroidered items and...
Message to the next volunteers
Welcome to Andavadock (sic),You might be in for a bit of a shock.I’m not going to talk about mozzies nor deet, Instead here’s a kelikely poem all about feet. It all begins very, very small,Just when you think you are...
Don’t worry, Be happy!!
Don’t Worry, Be HappySung along to the tune of the Bobby McFerrin song. Words by Charlie & Becks Don’t Worry, Be HappyHere’s a little song I wrote,You might want to sing it note for note,Don’t worry be happy Came to...
The UK’s first community Marine Protected Area
Recent news suggests that UK communities are becoming increasingly aware of the degradation to the marine environment occurring in their local area. 10 years of discussions, conflict and compromise has led to approval for a marine conservation area off the...
Expedition 35 says goodbye
As expedition 35 draws to a close, the 16 volunteers that began are now down to a lucky nine. Nine for whom six weeks will never be enough. I pity those who departed before the expedition ended, to return to...
The Perfect morning in Andavadoaka
Ingredients: Loads of fun peoplePlenty of high factor suncreamWaterBok bokCoffee 1) Begin by rising from a restful slumber at 5am. Emerge from your hut to view the full moon setting over the western horizon. Wait until the reflecting light on...
Alarming rates of mangrove habitat loss
The current decline of vast areas of mangroves is an environmental problem that must be urgently addressed: new figures show that 20% (3.6million hectares) of the world’s mangrove area has been destroyed since 1980. The loss of mangrove ecosystems causes...
Rare Victory for Madagascar Tortoises
Conservationists are celebrating a double victory over tortoise smugglers in Madagascar. Earlier this month, a Nigerian man was arrested with 300 tortoises and another 20 have been returned to their habitat after being seized on a neighbouring island. But campaigners’...
A trip down South
As hard working Expedition Manager I rarely get to leave site, but was fortunate enough recently to join a trip to go down south to Lamboara to collect the fish monitoring data. Bic led the trip and took along Lalao,...
Meet the Nahudas
Every expedition we take our new crop of volunteers into one of the village ‘epi-bars’ to meet the nahudas – the village elders. We introduce ourselves to them and then shake our tushes on the dancefloor to some Malagasy music...
Lemurs feel the cold!
Lemurs Warm-up with Space Heaters January 9, 2008, 5:19 PM PST Chilly ring-tailed lemurs at the Japan Monkey Centre in Aichi Prefecture have been jostling for positions in front of an electric heater to keep warm. Employees say the heater...
The Wanderer’s Return
Thursday 27th December Tana Airport 13:06 (UK), 16:06 (Madagascar) In approximately 54 minutes I will be heading down the runway and leaving this Fair Isle. A month has passed very quickly and I feel I have done a lot, seen...