Geckoes and Indri at Mantadia

23rd October 2015. Mantadia, Madagascar.

We were due to head back to Tana but had enough time for another hour of two in Mantadia.

A day gecko playing hide-and-seek in the fronds…

An Indri, distant at first, then coming very close.

Indri have the most amazing calls, eerie and musical, echoing through the forest. You really appreciate how loud they can be when you are close. The calls travel several kilometres. Do have a listen to this audio recording.

This particular Indri was rescued as an infant and reared by rangers. They don’t usually come so close, just a few feet away.

Masters of Camouflage

Jul16

22nd October 2015. Mantadia, Madagascar.

Most images from deep in the rainforest of Mantadia National Park….

Young Indri high in the tree tops.

Young Indri leaping.

Indri.

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Collared Nightjar.

Leaf-tailed gecko. Uroplatus Fimbriatus or Uroplatus Giganteus. As our bus was very slowly passing, some roadside workers stopped our bus and called us over.

The Uroplatus species might be the same animal or might conceal a number of species.

OK, you probably can’t see it (and it is not in peak focus).

It’s clearer here. From the other side of the tree.

Perhaps you still can’t see it. Maybe try clicking on the image to expand.

You can see one of the rear legs now. The tail is beside it. The head is further down.

It is said they face downwards on the trunk so that avian predators cannot see their eyes from above.

Close-up of the eye and part of the head.

Less than technically perfect because it required focus stacking and I did not shoot enough images.

A vertical band at the far left is bark from the tree.

Stick insect.

Chameleon.

Back at Andasibe now, a chameleon by torchlight at night.

Frog, species unidentified.

Entering Mantadia

Jul16

22nd October 2015. Mantadia, Madagascar.

From Andasibe, we drove to the Mantadia National Park. This is not far but took some time because the condition of the road meant that we were driving at perhaps 20 km/hr. This is a glimpse of the town near Adasibe.

This image and the following three show people and views on the road to Andasibe.

Now in Mantadia National Park, an orchid.

An ants’ nest. On the side of a tree due to seasonal flooding on the ground.

Funghi, perhaps on a fallen log.

These flowers look a bit like those of the Australian shrub Correa but are the flowers of a vine.

Stick Insect.

Gecko.

Short-legged ground roller.

Berenty

Nov23

24th to 26th October 2015. Berenty Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Temporary post. Images only. Minimal descriptions for images.

Back from the South Georgia Wilderness after amazing two weeks. Only four hours sleep last night after big travel day. Not sure how often I’ll find time to post during the next week. Here is the last temporary post for Madagascar.