January 22, 2011 – Collaboration between Kasanka Baboon Project and J.E. Cosgriff Catholic School

The Kasanka Baboon Project is honored by the support of the J.E. Cosgriff Catholic Memorial School I Salt Lake City Utah. This month for their community project they are raising money for books and supplies as well as taking donations for both the Kafinda and Chalilo Basic Schools just near to the Kasanka National Park main gate. In addition the student at Cosgriff are taking photos and writing letters to the students here in Zambia. We will be exchanging letters, photos and videos as well. This gives students from both countries the ability to learn about one another’s daily lives, what they are learning in school and their interests.  We hope that the correspondence continues throughout the year. If you are interested in donating to this cause please visit our or Cosgriffs websites. www.kasankababoonproject.com www.cosgriff.org

January 20, 2011 – Doom

After four more carnivorous ant attacks n my tent I have acquired a can of Doom. This is a commonly used chemical here is Zambia to prevent pests and I am sure it is loaded with chemicals not legal in the United States. As a primatologist and conservationist I do believe that while I am in the field I am living in another’s environment and I should constantly try to make as small of an impact as possible on the environment. But…after having to pick of ants that don’t just bite but hold on tight to your skin with pinchers, I have resorted to being ready with a can of Doom. I won’t actively seek out the ants but if they try to get in again they might be doomed.

January 17, 2011 – Blue Monkeys

In addition to baboons, we also have vervet monkeys and blue monkeys. The vervets are the most mischievous, visiting camp several times a day in hope that we left a tomato or two out. The blue monkeys are more elusive. During the dry season we may not see them for weeks at a time. Fortunately, during the rainy season they stick around. Baboons and vervets don’t get along so well. I assumed that blue monkeys and baboons just tolerated each other. Instead we are finding them sleeping not just in the same sleeping roves but in the same trees. The other day David and I had the opportunity to watch them feed and forage while we waited for the lazy baboons to wake up. They are curious and very beautiful. They would be a great species to study here at Kasanka. Any takers?

January 14, 2011 – The miracle of the rainy season

It is truly the rainy season here at Kasanka National Park. In two of the last  seven days we have received over 200 millimeters of rain, with  total of over 700 millimeters!! At times it makes field work difficult but each day I experience something extraordinary. Kingston and I were watching the baboons this morning at their sleeping grove. Off in the distance we could hear thunder and rumbling although the sky above us was blue. Over the course of an hour we watched a large storm slowly build and move its way towards us. As the sky is large and one can see very far you can really see the movements of the sky. Sure enough, when the storm got close, it moved in fast and we barely had our rain ponchos on before it began to pour.

Every day I see a new type of insect; a different colored caterpillar or a new termite. Wildflowers are everywhere and constantly new ones pop up. The variety of mushrooms is extraordinary and not only do the baboons forage on them, we eat them too! This is also the season of mangos which grow in te villages. There are so many that we villagers cannot eat them fast enough.

I am learning that working in the rainy season takes patience, flexibility, and lots of bug repellant. I do know that it is all worth it to see the miracle of life.

January 10, 2011 – George is quite dexterous

Today I noticed a new type of fruit that the baboons are eating. I wanted to get a sample so I could identify it back at camp. I was with my scout George and I told him this. We found a tree with the small yellow fruits, although the branches were many meters above the ground. I told Gorge that we would find a better tree where we could reach a branch. As I was saying this George ducked into the Mushitu and began to climb a nearby tree. All that was running through my mind was that George was going to fall and get hurt. He was balancing on a thin tree trunk. As I told him to be careful he was kicking off his rubber boots and socks. He wrapped his feet around the trunk and reached the tree and got a sample. He came down to the ground safely. I know that I do not have the dexterity or the skill to do that. I suppose working as a scout for almost 20 years, one learns how to live and survive in the bush.

The moral of this story? We are all primates and have the abilities to do things with our nimble hands and fingers that we find hard to imagine. For most of us growing up in an urban environment I think we lose touch with this.

January 9, 2011 – L.P. is pregnant!

In November I went back to the U.S. to attend and participate in my best friend from college’s wedding. At the rehearsal dinner I informed her that I had named a baboon after her. L.P. Today I discovered that L.P. is pregnant and due any day. I wonder how this news will reach the newlyweds.