Lemur Conservation & Research Trip

Hi Everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my Go Fund Me Page!!

Who am I?
My name is Tara Clarke and I am a primatologist, conservaitonist, anthropologist, and lover of all things lemur!! I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Victoria in the Department of Anthropology, as well as an active board member for the non-profit Lemur Love, Inc.. I will be graduating this coming summer (2015) (Hooray!!) after a long ten-years of graduate school (MA and Ph.D. programs ). 

Why do lemurs need our help?
Well, for one thing Lemurs are ENDANGERED!!!
Lemurs need our help NOW because they are the most threatened group of vertebrates in the world. In fact, 94% of lemur species (100 and counting) are now threatened with extinction, due to habitat loss and fragmentation, mining, and the illegal pet and bushmeat trades.
Illegal Lemur Pet Trade:
A shocking new study revealed that more than 28,000 lemurs have been affected by the illegal pet trade since 2010 (Reuter et al., 2015)! The practice of illegally capturing wild lemurs and keeping them as pets or selling them locally, and/or using them as photo-props to make money off of tourists is now quite common and widespread across the island. The majority of pet lemurs are kept in terrible conditons, fed unnatural diets, and often die in captivity.

What will I be doing and Why?
Captive Lemur Research:
I, along with my colleague Dr. Marni LaFleur (founder and director of Lemur Love, Inc.), will be assessing and studying confiscated captive lemurs, located at the Lemur Rescue Center (LRC),  in order to make recommendations for their care and hopefully future release back into the wild. The LRC is also a non-profit which Lemur Love has recently partnered. They are the only facility in Madagascar that houses and rehabilitates lemurs that have been rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trades.  

Work with Local Malagasy Government Officials: 
Dr. LaFleur and I will be meeting and working with local government officials in order to help with the development of procedures for the confiscation and transportation of rescued lemurs to the Lemur Rescue Center. In addition, we will be assisting local officals in the confiscation of lemurs that are in desparate need of our help. 

Wild Lemur Research: Dr. LaFleur and I will also be spending time collecting behavioral data, urine, and fecal samples of three groups of wild ring-tailed lemurs (which Dr. LaFleur studied for her PhD) inhabiting Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (TNP). These data will be utilized to assess population genetics, hormones, and parasites.  

Conservation Education:
Conservation education is an essential component in creating the way biodiversity is viewed and ultimately valued. Therefore, if we hope to end the illegal pet trade of lemurs, we must engage local communities in fostering a knowledge and understanding of Madagascar's unique biodiversity, which will help to instill local pride and create positve change. 
         Education Plan:
1. Administer pre-evaluation surveys to determine local knowledge regarding: 1) Madagascar's biodiversity (e.g., lemurs are endemic to Madagascar), 2) why lemurs are threatened, 3) whether or not they think lemurs make good pets, why or why not, and 4) awareness of the Lemur Rescue Center (LRC) and its mission. 
2. Conservation education for kids: Utilize education materials (lessons, games, activities) to teach local children about Madagascar's biodiversity,  why it is special, why it should be preserved, and how to be active particpants in conservation. 
    Conservation education will be carried out in the villages near the Lemur Rescue Center, as well as outside TNP. 

Budget
Flight:
USA-Anatananarivo, Madagascar:  ~$3000 (roundtrip via Seattle, WA)
Antananarivo-Toliara, Madagascar: ~$500 (roundtrip)

Hotel and Food:
4 nights (arrive/departure) in Antananarivo: $75/day (hotel/food)[Upon arrival & departure I will stay in the city for 2 nights in order to purchase field supplies, take care of paperwork, and in case luggae doesn't arrive on time (typical!)]
4 nights in Toliara (arrive/departure): $50/day (hotel/food) [Time in Toliara will be spent meeting with colleagues before data collection & education workshops begin/end]
14 nights at Reniala: $23/day (hotel/food) [My stay at Reniala will include data collection at the LRC,  conservaiton education outreach, and work with local officals on pet lemur seizures.] 

**Field Research at TNP:
Research fees: ~$130 (this is required for all researchers working in Madagascar)
~1 month 2 weeks of camping at TNP: ~$20/day (camp site fees/food)

Research Visa: $100 (this is required for all foreign researchers working in Madagascar)

International Health Insurance: $150

**Thanks to a private donor, I have secured funding for my field research fees, as well as camping fees & food while at TNP!**

Total budget (not including anti-malaria drugs, baggage fees, and unexpected costs that typicaly arise when conducting research in Madagascar)= $4,503

Thank you so much for your support!! And, thank you for loving lemurs!!

For more information about me and Lemur Love's work, please check out the following links: 

Tara's personal website: http://lemurgirlclarke.wix.com/taraclarke

Lemur Love, Inc.: http://www.lemurlove.org