Mariepskop biodiversity survey update

Work on Mariepskop Mountain has proved to be challenging recently as heavy storms and flash floods have washed some of the roads and bridges away, cutting off our access to town and some of the study sites. At one point this meant that we couldn’t get down the mountain and had to ask staff from Karongwe base to come and rescue us from the other side of the river. We then had to hop into their car and leave ours behind so we could get back to base. Dramatic stuff!

Despite the weather the small mammal survey work has continued and the reptile census turned up an unusual montane burrowing skink (Scelotes mira). So thanks to John for hunting it down! We are waiting for official ID’s for some of the amphibians we have caught that are not supposed to occur in the area, so fingers crossed that will also turn up an interesting discovery. Now let’s just cross our fingers and hope the rain stops so we don’t get stranded again!

Mariepskop biodiversity survey update