In late September, the PICC team had prepared resources for over 200 Malagasy children and was ready to travel to Madagascar for October sessions in the Masoala forest. Just days before we were to fly out of the US, political disruptions began in cities across Madagascar and the airlines canceled their flights into Antananarivo. We were disappointed for the children anticipating our classes, but we look forward to rescheduling our project for spring 2026!
Thanks to many people supporting our programs, we are currently able to remotely support our Malagasy team leader, Pascal Elison, as he conducts educational hikes, art experiences, and conservation activities in Masoala NP and Nosy Mangabe. With Pascal’s extraordinary knowledge and teaching skills, the children continue learning and protecting their local lemur populations.
Ambodiforaha, Masoala NP
In late October, Pascal led a large group of 6–10 year old children on hikes in the primary Masoala forest LOHATRÔZINA, near their home village of Ambodiforaha. Even short hikes in these incredibly biodiverse areas reveal a myriad of rare and endangered animals. They saw Critically Endangered Red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra); beautiful birds, including the Velvet asity (Philepitta castanea), Helmet vanga (Euryceros prevostii, Endangered), and Spectacled tetraka (Xanthomixis zosterops, Near Threatened); the fascinating little ring-taied vontsira (Galidia elegans); and Red-legged Fire-Millipede (Aphistogoniulus corallipes) (found only in Masoala and Critically Endangered).
Along with their hikes and lessons in the field, the students are able to share their new knowledge and educate their families, community and international visitors on conservation issues. We look forward to building on their knowledge and skills when we visit Masoala in April 2026!
Maroantsetra Conservation Club, FARKA
Later in October, the older youth of Maroantsetra’s FARKA conservation club were excited to have Pascal take them to the nature island of Nosy Mangabe, in Antongil Bay, NE Madagascar. This beautiful, biodiverse island is part of the Masoala National Park and is available for camping and exploring, reachable by dugout canoe. (Check out the artworkfrom the FARKA students that visited the island for a multi-night camping trip in 2021).
The students were impressed and amazed by the diversity of plants and animals on Nosy Mangabe, many of which they had never seen before in spite of growing up within a few kilometers of the island. The students were extremely lucky to see the rarely seen aye aye not once but twice, almost all of them seeing this endangered species for the first time in their lives.
Check out this video where one of the students, Giavano, shares his excitement of their discoveries.
These Maroantsetra city students were thankful to have this opportunity. Some of their teachers have become eco-guides and are role models for the students to aim for conservation-compatible careers. However, to become a guide requires a deep knowledge of the animals and ecosystems, the ability to speak many languages, and a firm foundation of ethics and conservation issues. As a professional guide, Pascal has this knowledge and is an important role model for these high schoolers who are making life decisions as they finish their education.
Pascal teaches these trip participants not only how to spot and identify birds and lemurs in the dense foliage, but also how to talk to clients, and how to handle the many logistics of these types of trips. The students develop skills in helping others to identify wildlife and understand the ecological significance of the various plants and animals.
Back in Maroantsetra, as Pascal finds time in his busy schedule, he continues to teach students in their regular school where he encourages them to attend university and pursue conservation work.
Brimming with enthusiasm for protecting the magnificent biodiversity of the Masoala Peninsula, the students have sparked an interest to visit the reserves with their families. Through this conservation-focused work, students have developed leadership skills and remain committed to protecting the lemurs, birds, and coral reefs of this region.
Photos by Pascal Elison, October 2025