Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
My last trip was unforgettable! I once again contacted 'my' little school in Ankify to
arrange a cultural visit for my group. We visited the two-room school and M Farajao,
a teacher, helped us exchange questions and answers about life in the USA and Mad-
agascar. Everyone with me had packed half their suitcase with school supplies, sports
gear, and toys and games to donate. These went a long way, even among the 160+
school kids ranging from six to 15 years old.
As a special treat this year I also brought in a six-foot-long ground boa, the largest
kind of snake found in Madagascar. Our guide had found it the previous evening and
knewI'dwanttoshowthekids.Ikeptithidden,savingitforthegrandfinaleofalive
Show & Tell style 'biology lesson'.
The kids went wild when I suddenly lifted the four-inch-thick snake out of a box
onthefloor.Someranforthedoor;othersleaped outofwindows.Butsoonthewhole
class was back crowding around to touch the tail end of the huge boa. Malagasy boas
are usually very mellow, but just to be safe, I held its head up and out of reach in case
the commotion upset it. That proved to be wise because the snake quickly tired of the
handling, sunk its teeth into my armpit, and held on. I shielded the bite from view and
triednottowinceasIcontinuedtosmileandalloweveryonetoquenchtheircuriosity.
I don't think anyone realised what was actually happening, which is good because I
certainly didn't want to give anyone a bad impression of this beautiful and essentially
harmless local snake that was only reacting to the hundreds of hands touching it.
I've made visiting L'Ecole Primaire Publique d'Ankify an annual event since I al-
waysreturntothismagicalareawithmytours.BesidesMadagascar'suniqueanimals,
the people are a true treasure that I proudly include in interactions as often as possible
as we rove the countryside seeing and photographing nature.
BillLoveisaphotographer,writer,andtouroperator
(
www.bluechameleon.org
)
who
regularly runs eco-tours to Madagascar
.
Wildlife
Conservation International
(USA) 1015 18th St NW, Washington DC, 20003;
www.conservation.org
.
One of the most active conservation organisations in Madagascar.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Les Augres Manor, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, Chan-
nel Islands, British Isles; 01534 860000;
f
01534 860001;
www.durrell.org
Wildlife Conservation Society
e
membership@wcs.org
;
www.wcs.org
.
A US-based or-
ganisation at the Bronx Zoo in New York City which supports a wide range of conserva-
tion projects in Madagascar.
WWF
Switzerland
Av du Mont-blanc, 1196 Gland, (International Office);
UK
Panda Hse,
Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 IXR;
USA
1250 24th St NW, Washington DC
20037-1175;
Madagascar
Aires Protégées, BP738, Antananarivo 101;
www.wwf.org
