The narrow-striped mongoose is another species unique to the Menabe region. The 1990 Durrell expedition had hoped to collect animals for a captive breeding programme, but ran out of time. The Trust now carries out fieldwork in the forests of Menabe in order to learn more about the distribution of and threats to this wonderful animal. In addition, we have kept animals at Jersey since 2002, and have begun to breed them and learn more about them. While studying jumping rats in the forest, we occasionally glimpsed these animals as they shot across the forest floor in a blur.
Gerald Durrell describes how we set up a breeding station at Ampijoroa, in order to save the incredible ploughshare tortoise from extinction. This field station is thriving, as are the ploughshare tortoises, flat-tailed tortoises and side-necked turtles that we successfully breed there. The field station is situated alongside the main entrance to Ankarafantsika National Park, famous for its wonderful diversity of birds and lemurs, including one of Gerald Durrell’s favourites – the delightful Cocquerel’s sifaka, which casually leap through the trees around the field station. Tragedy struck the field station in 1996 when thieves broke in and stole around seventy captive-bred young ploughshare tortoises, to sell in the illegal international pet trade. Our staff there persevered and have now bred around 250 young ploughshare tortoises. Gerald Durrell would have been immensely proud that we began successfully reintroducing these captive-bred youngsters to the wild in 2005. Sadly, illegally collected wild ploughshare tortoises continue to be sold to collectors over the Internet.
Of course, we also work with other Madagascan animals not the subject of this book, both in Jersey and in their home country. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust continues to play an important role in the Madagascar Fauna Group, and over the last few years has assisted in a major reintroduction project for captive bred black and white ruffed lemurs – a project which would have given our late founder immense pleasure. His devotion to Madagascar conservation lives on in the Trust, particularly in the dedicated Madagascar-based team, both Malagasy and ‘vazaha’. Many young Malagasy conservationists have now studied at our International Training Centre in Jersey, and taken valuable skills back to their home country. Jersey-based captive breeding, veterinary care, and research is integrated with the numerous conservation activities of our Madagascar team. This integrated multidisciplinary approach, along with the vital help of our supporters, is key to the Trust’s ongoing success.
Acknowledgements
All the principal expedition team members join me in offering most grateful thanks to Channel Television Inc. (Jersey, Channel Islands), and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for providing major funding for the expedition, to Wildlife Preservation Trust International and the Toyota Motor Corporation, each of whom donated a Toyota Land Cruiser, and to Air Mauritius for covering the international air travel for the expedition members, the Channel Television team, the animals and the baggage.
Much appreciation must also be expressed to the Government of Madagascar for granting permission for the expedition, particularly to the Direction des Eaux et Forêts, and to the Director and Staff of the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza for the excellent care of the animals before the trip to Jersey.
Without the help, expertise and encouragement so generously provided by many people in Madagascar, the expedition would not have been such a success, and to these people we offer warmest thanks: Roland Albignac, Dennis and Helen Amy, Benjamin Andriamahaja, Mina Andriamasimanana, Alan Hickling, Olivier Langrand, Martin Nicoll, Julien Rabesoa, Mihanta Rakotoarinosy, Georges Rakotonarivo, Raymond Rakotonindrina, Victor-Solo Rakotonirina, Edmond Rakotovao, Guy Ramangason, Joseph Randrianaivoravelona, Celestine Ravaoarinoromanga, Don Reid, Licia Roger, Monsieur and Madame Roland, Eleanor Stirling, Barthélémi Vaohita, Edward and Araminta Whitley, Fran Woods, Lucienne Wilmé and all the people of the village of Antanambaobe, especially Marc and Marlin Marcel.
Finally, we are all indebted to the Channel Television team for their hard work, enthusiasm and good cheer, which made the Mananara leg of the expedition such a memorable experience: ‘Captain’ Bob Evans, Tim Ringsdore, Mickey Tostevin, Graham Tidy, Frank Cvitanovitch and our two brilliant drivers, Tiana and Bruno.
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First published by HarperCollins Ltd 1992
First published in this edition in Penguin Books 2012
Copyright © Gerald Durrell, 1992
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ISBN: 978-0-14-197129-2
Gerald Durrell, The Aye-Aye and I
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