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For one short week this past summer, it was my great privilege and pleasure to tour the
SAVA Conservation project with Charlie Welch as my guide. In the very good company of
Charlie, as well as Dr. Erik Patel (the project's Director) and Lanto Andriananandrasana (SAVA
Project Manager), we toured all facets of the project. There is a lot going on, and over a
relatively vast geographic area, so it was a busy week! We began in the beautiful town of
Sambava where Erik lives
when not in the field, and
where the project's central
office is located. Lodged at
the serene Orchidea Beach
Hotel, we strolled the town
and visited the central
office. Charlie and Erik
chose the site well. The
office is spacious and
centrally
located,
and
o f f e r s
c o n v e n i e n t
accommodat ions
for
visiting
scholars
and
researchers. There, visitors
will find a comfortable bed,
kitchen, and wifi. Indeed, seeing the amenities took me back to my days as a graduate
student working in Madagascar. I would have been in heaven with such accommodations at
my disposal! It is certainly my hope that the graduate students of today will be similarly
pleased to consider the SAVA office as their home base as they explore all the biological and
cultural wonders that the region has to offer.
From Sambava, we traveled by vehicle to Andapa, where the heart of the project lies.
There, we visited the already successful fish-farming project that is being coordinated with
local conservationist Desiré Rabary and with fresh water fish specialist Guy Tam Hyock. The
pond itself is in a lovely setting, surrounded by rolling hills and (recovering) native
vegetation. Along with Duke Engage students Sophia Staal and Cameron Tripp, we heard all
of the details of the first harvest, and the delight with which the local villagers enjoyed the
bounty of fresh fish. Afterwards, we repaired to Desiré's home for a delicious lunch followed
by a vigorous hike through the forest preserve that Desiré is creating in his one-man mission
to purchase and protect local forests. I was so very pleased and impressed with the
News from the
S
ambava-
A
ndapa-
V
ohemar-
A
ntalaha region of NE Madagascar
NOVEMBER 2013
Vol. 2, No. 3
I NS I DE TH I S
I S SUE :
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST :
Enchanted by SAVA
By Dr. Anne Yoder, Director—Duke Lemur Center
DLC Director Dr. Anne Yoder holds forth with DukeEngage student volun-
teers Sophia Staal and Cameron Tripp, and SAVA Conservation Director
Dr. Erik Patel.
Photo by Karl Bates