Oxford University Summer Expedition 2010 - Peter, Zia, Mariel and Catherine

The Team prepared for insect trapping - those sweet bundles contain pig dung

It was our first experience of welcoming 4 biology undergraduates/recent graduates from St Hildas on to the reserve for a whole 6 weeks- July to early September.  A fascinating, varied, intense but wonderful time.  With many highlights and the odd and rare lowlight. 

We lived side by side with nothing but muslin and a pail of dung to separate us....their research equipment.

The crew of four led by Peter were so impressive - motivated, knowledgeable and with a super additional skill set to boot....cocktail mixing, classical guitar, 'light entertainment' theatrical prowess, break-dancing, rapping, Russian speaking, falconry, cake baking...  And they all came into play at one time or another! 

Here is a flavour of their work in pictures...

Introduction to the community ... how far to Oxford? 8139 km

A day of community fishing

Peter examining a water monitor with a professional air (despite being caked in mud)

Zia rarely seen without a pooter

Plant surveying in the cashew plantation below the main house

Highlights

• Exploring many hidden corners of the reserve for the biodiversity inventory - the big river, palm forest and mountains
• An infectious interest in insects spreading amongst the community until the Regulo would bring large mysterious insects caught in all manner of vessels day and night



Camping trip to N'tepwa

• Running a 4 day field training course for top students at the newly established Unilurio, University in Pemba, biology degree course
• All taking part in the Community fishing day - 150 kg of fish caught
• Mariel spotting Elephants (my first sighting on the reserve)
• Peter's night camera trap success - a serval and civet beautifully captured on film



Bat colony discovered in deep cave

• Peter making flat bread in the furnace
• Cooking sausages on a long pole over the hugely hot newly made brick pit fire - the technique needed was termed 'shunt sausage'



Preparing for the field course

• Camping in the far mountains and waiting while the boys did some caving and discovered a colony of most interesting bats (and luckily no mamba)
• Zia teaching children some break-dance moves in Nanduli 
• Joining in a woman's drumming and dancing session in the village
• Entertaining 33 tourists throughout this period

General discussions with plant press

Catherine leading a practical session, Tiago translating
on the 4 day Field Course

Unilurio students and tutors at Mareja

Many insects prepared to be taken back for identification in Oxford

A water beetle (name to follow) and an early injury

Field work come shine or rain...

And finally a day's seminar held at the University in Pemba (Unilurio) to disseminate what was learnt on the field course to all biology students.  There was great interest in meeting the Oxford students and the media covered the day - generating an article about Mareja's interest in developing biodiversity research.  A super success, the whole event.

Examining the full extent of the Unilurio Biology degree library

Serafino makes a presentation to all students
about what he learnt at Mareja with Ox Uni- his chose mammals

Peter and the team are presented with a plaque
for their help and work with Unilurio

Peter demonstrating mammal traps to students

Everyone answered questions after the seminar
(a display table run by Oxford accompanied by the 4 students that visited Mareja)

Low lights

• Moth trapping super until the carefully conveyed, special Ultra Violet bulb blew the expensive converter



A low lit highlight...piri piri chicken at Silva Makua

• Driving back late in the rain from camping with a completely full open truck -then discovering some illegal timber that Dominik felt had to be piled in as well...
• Am sure there were others but Z/C/P/M can fill in the gaps!

First baking success...with help of Mariel.
I developed a sad case of 'baking envy' when they visited Ibo and were served the most delicious chocolate brownies

And a welcome mini break away from the forested interior on Ibo Island

An overview of a fantastically successful expedition mounted by these four in their holidays for their own interest, fueled and funded by their own wit, energy and passion.  They contributed hugely to the Mareja community, left much good will, new links forged, capacity built and knowledge developed. 

A really large thank you from me and Dominik and Mareja - a wonderful summer.

Research findings are not included here...but please ask me if you would like to know more: sofascott@hotmail.com