Day twelve - ecoagriculture, a snake and a baby lemur

This morning I had a tour of the Model Station to see the ecoagriculture programme. The Model Station has several roles. Christian is the Model Station manager and he and his team run research trials on different plant varieties and growing techniques to ensure that the information they pass on to farmers is based on firm evidence. Farmer training takes place at the Model Station and also on the farmers’ own land. In addition, on the site of the model station is a tree nursery and research area, where Jean-Francois carries out trials into different techniques for propagating endangered tree species such as ebony and rosewood. Young trees are grown to be used in the MFG’s reforestation programme in collaboration with Missouri Botanical Gardens.

 

In the potager Christian trials different growing techniques for food crops such as rice, bananas, beans, tomatoes and cucumbers. Most produce goes to the zoo and to the buvette, but the rice goes to the Saturday School. While visiting the potager Christof and I came across the freshly killed carcass of a small mammal. It had been partially eaten (probably by a village dog) so it wasn’t easy to identify but I thought it could be a tenrec. When we were returning through the potager a few minutes later we spotted a large Madagascar hog-nosed snake and, to my surprise, it was trying to swallow the tenrec. It is the first time I have seen evidence of a snake eating carrion. As we moved around to get a few photos the snake became very possessive of its prize and tried to drag it away through the grass. The strength and tenacity of the snake were very impressive.  We watched in fascination as it slowly walked its jaws up and around the animal (which was easily as big as a large guinea-pig). It was clearly going to be a long process so we left the snake to its meal.

Next to the Model Station are some demonstration rice paddies. At the moment they are being used to test the efficacy of bat guano as a fertiliser.

Christian has been trying out different agroforestry techniques, where crops are interplanted with trees, to find out which are most effective. This can be useful when farming slopes. The tree roots retain the soil and, depending on which tree are used, can also provide fruit. Grasses are also sometimes used along the contours for soil retention.
Christof showed me a variety of trees which are grown for crops in Madagascar, including cinnamon, cloves (pictured), mangoes, pepper and kapok. I also saw vanilla, which is a climber. The vanilla and pepper plantation is interplanted with pineapple plants, which are faster growing.

When the tour had finished I met up with Jana at the education centre to discuss her ideas for developing the exhibits there. Jana is an artist and she showed me some of her drawings - they are absolutely stunning.
At lunchtime today I joined Christof and the MFG staff for lunch at the staff refectory at the conservation training centre. Jana and Maya also ate with us. The MFG staff were astounded by the photographs of the snake and confirmed that the animal it was eating was indeed a tenrec.
After lunch I walked down to the zoo. There was a baby greater bamboo lemur born a few weeks ago and I wanted to get a glimpse. This species is critically endangered and the baby is a very precious addition to the breeding programme. The group were all feeding in their enclosure and as I watched I suddenly saw a tiny hand reaching out towards a bamboo leaf. The baby was snuggled in close to its mother’s stomach but was taking a real interest in its surroundings and its little round head turned back and forth, watching the other lemurs.

Some of the lemurs in the zoo are free-ranging and as I left a small twig hit me on the head. I looked up and high in the branches above me were two black and white ruffed lemurs, grooming themselves.
Tonight it was my turn to cook and I thought I’d make something that didn’t involve rice. I had a couple of potatoes and an onion so made some rösti, which I served up with egg. Sadly, the potato stuck to the bottom of the flimsy pan so although it tasted OK it didn’t look that appetising. I think poor Christof is starting to regret asking me to share cooking duties!
It was very hot this evening so I sat outside for a while writing up some notes about the education centre exhibit for Jana. There was some rustling in a nearby tree and when I shone my torch I saw an adorable dwarf lemur trotting along the branch. It was only a fleeting glimpse but now the litchis are ripening I think we may start to see more lemurs close to the bungalow.
Big clouds were starting to gather in the East. Could rain be on the way?