We cannot guarantee which field sites, research projects and species volunteers will be studying prior to arrival.

Week 1: Training and Orientation

Situated at the beautiful lake-side camp of Lanirano in Fort Dauphin, you will receive a detailed orientation about Madagascar, local customs, and lessons in the Malagasy language. PBZT staff and Azafady specialists will give you a detailed introduction to the work that you will be doing over the next four/eight weeks and will lead a series of lectures and workshops addressing topics such as “Primate Surveying Techniques,” “Primate Behaviour,” “Botanical Surveying Techniques,” and “How Captive Breeding Aids Conservation?” There will be a visit to the nearby Nahampona Reserve to allow you to get up close to the three main species of diurnal lemur you are likely to encounter in the bush - Verreaux's sifaka, ring tailed lemurs, and brown lemurs.

Weeks 2 – 4: Littoral Forest

These weeks will be spent in the fragmented littoral forests north of Sainte Luce (Fort Dauphin region) carrying out transect surveys as part of a fragmentation study to compare relative primate abundance, floristic diversity and human disturbance in the different forest fragments. Research will focus on lemur species including the collared brown lemur (Eulemur collaris), woolly lemur (Avahi laniger) and the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus). There may also be an opportunity to spend a few days participating in Azafady’s reforestation programme or carrying out environmental education with local communities.

Break
There will be a break of three to four days back at Lanirano, to enable you to write up your work, do your post, emailing, dining out if you wish, shopping, and having a break from the routine of the bush.

Weeks 5 – 8: Spiny Desert

These weeks will be spent in Ifotaka, in the arid spiny desert of the southeast, carrying out research on the diet and feeding behaviour of Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi). In addition, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and smaller nocturnal species can occasionally be seen. There may also be some work with local communities – carrying out interviews with local people about their use of natural resources and dependency on the forest.