Wetlands worth protecting
The turtles monitored notably used shallow areas with muddy beds and reed-lined shores. These observations help identify suitable habitats after reintroduction.
Wildlife conservation · 2022 & 2024
Tracking the Rere.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Master’s internship, then conservation assistance · Madagascar
Understanding wildlife,
up close.
The Rere (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) is a freshwater turtle endemic to Madagascar. Working with Durrell, my master’s research focused on monitoring it after reintroduction at Lake Ravelobe, in Ankarafantsika.
The starting question
Once released,
where do the turtles go?
3 turtlestracked individually
3 seasonsof data in 2022
Radio tracking & QGISconnecting movements and habitats
Radio transmitters make it possible to locate the turtles after release. Positions recorded on foot or by boat are linked to water depth, vegetation and the nature of the lake bed.
I contributed to field monitoring, habitat descriptions and mapping in QGIS to understand how the individuals use the lake across seasons.
Observations
to guide monitoring.
A lake that changes with the seasons
Changes in water levels alter the spaces available. Taking these changes into account helps connect turtle monitoring with habitat management.
Scope of the findings: this study followed three individuals. It offers initial insights that need to be explored further with more turtles and at other sites.
From a thesis
to sharing research.
Master’s research defended in 2024 at the University of Antananarivo; a poster was presented at ATBC in Kigali that same year.
This experience continued with a conservation assistance mission with Durrell. It highlights the value of monitoring after reintroduction, in collaboration with conservation teams and local communities.
The Rere conservation programme · DurrellExplore my digital work too