Going Batty (Pun intended)

 Hey everyone,


Wanted to post a quick blog entry with some pictures in regards to an entertaining little story!




While waiting for one of the guys assisting me in the crocodile surveys, A small bat flew in through one of the broken windows in the field house I'm staying in! I quickly got up and shut off my ceiling fan (it's fan blades are metal,  which= bad news for bats!) and then looked around anywhere for something I could use to safely capture the little bugger. The only thing remotely usable in my frame of view happened to be a pair of boxer shorts in my dirty clothes pile (IE the pile of dirty clothes in the middle of my floor).  I made due with what I had and turned the boxers into a capture-net/gloves to snag to the little bat and prevent him from hurting himself!

After taking a few quick pictures I took him to the front door and sent him on his way! Great way to start a night!

Bat in my boxers!

Following the bat action Suk and I went out to try and snag some more crocodiles, however the cold weather (It's surprisingly chilly here!) and the recent burning and farming activities has limited my opportunities. The "rookery ponds" that I had my earlier success in have been pillaged for the fish they contain and the crocodiles that were within those ponds have moved to other water sources.


It also seems that the bush burning that was performed in other parts of Kulmasa, was also done in sections of the dam. The heat and byproducts of the fire, not to mention the human activity might have also contributed to the lessening crocodile activity.

Hopefully things turn up in the next week or so as my time here in the Northern region is coming to a close soon! At least I have some preliminary data to work with that should help A Rocha formulate plans to preserve and maintain the dam area in a "Crocodile friendly" state!





Much love to everyone and God Bless!