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Field Equipment Donation Tomas and I would like to thank Save the Manatee Club for an amazing donation of a trolling motor, GPS and 4 life jackets to be used for manatee surveys at newly created Tocc Tocc Reserve in northern Senegal, the first reserve created specifically for the West African Manatee. Tomas has worked very hard over the past few years with the local […]

In the Genetics Lab While I’ve been silent on my blog I’ve been busy working in a genetics laboratory in Gainesville, Florida. It’s been really exciting to get going on the analysis of the samples I’ve collected in Africa over the past 4 years! Although I’m more of an outdoor person, and working with delicate glassware and pipetting minuscule quantities into test tubes is not

Thanks to Sea World! On Friday I received word that the Sea World Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has awarded me a grant to continue my manatee work in Africa. This is the second time in three years I’ve received funding from them, and I really appreciate the support at a time when the economy is slowly rebounding!! At this time of year I focus on

Disney’s “Oceans”This looks like a great new movie, and Disney (who funds some of my West African manatee work) will have a large display including my research at the premiere in Hollywood on Earth Day! Exciting… I’ll post photos after the event. Click here to see a trailer of the film!

Back in the USA After another great fieldwork season in Senegal, Gabon and Ghana (7 months this year!) I arrived back in Florida last weekend. Now comes the other part of my job… writing reports, getting genetics samples exported from multiple African countries, analyzing and publishing data, and planning for next season. This summer I also hope to begin analysis of some of the genetics

Senegal: A Few More Manatees On Monday I visited the Zoology Department at Dakar University, where they have specimens of most of Senegal’s species, including a partial manatee skeleton on display (no flippers). The curator wasn’t there, so I’ll contact him later for information about where it came from and how long ago it was acquired, but from the size of the skeleton, it appears

Thanks Columbus!!My longest term funder for West African Manatees, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Fund, has renewed my grant for a third year in a row. I really appreciate this kind of continuing support as the work continues to grow across all the countries where West African manatees occur! The Columbus Zoo has also invited me come and give a presentation on my African

Bay and Paul Foundation Yesterday I was awarded a small grant from the Bay and Paul Foundation, a new funder for Wildlife Trust. This money will go to supporting my work in Africa and to buy much needed field equipment for African colleagues starting work in their home countries. I so appreciate all the support and will put the money to good use in the

Senegal: Casamance Was Worth the Wait!! I’ve been wanting to get to the Casamance River, the southern boundary of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, for about a year. It’s been difficult because there have been a few rebel uprisings from separatists who want to break away from Senegal, so there have been a couple military interventions (not exactly a good time to go there!) and also logistically