Operation Wallacea - Madagascar

My main objectives for doing this project were to gain research skills and experience working in a research camp. While I did see lots of wildlife, have some cool experiences, learnt about the culture and meet some lovely people, it definitely fell short on the science side. I was under the impression from the advertisement and from a previous Operation Wallacea trip at another location that the students would be taught the skills to do the surveys, then carry out the surveys themselves. In reality, we went out on a survey not knowing much and the local guides spotted all the animals which were noted by the science staff member, who occasionally told us something about the animals. There was a lot of just following the staff about and animals being pointed out to us, so it seemed like we were more of a hindrance on a sightseeing trip than actually doing science. Sometimes we could actually get involved like with bird netting, botany and sometimes one person would be asked to take environmental measurements but it really wasn't very hands on, more like a glorified sightseeing trip than being an actual 'research assistant', which this was definitely not. From the experience and the comments of the staff, it seems more like students are mainly there as a source of funding who are promised scientific experience (which you don't really get). A lot of the staff are volunteers, even the Malagasy scientists, and it's not clear how ethical the organization is with pay of staff or positive impact on the community. Organisation of internal travel was poor. We were collected from the airport and taken to the hotel, then heard nothing of our onward travel until late in the evening before the day of departure. I was at the hotel for two extra days with no information and had to pay for my meal which i had already paid through Operation Wallacea. Other students reported similar problems with meals or even hotels stays not being paid for. During the actual research part of the trip, schedules were often changed with no announcement at short notice so some people missed activities. Concerning the actual data that was being collected, it was not made clear to us how this data was being used, even if it was being used. At the marine site, the majority of the time was spent doing 'fun' snorkels with no actual scientific component. While informed by word of mouth beforehand that there wasn't much of a marine research program in Madagascar, it really seemed non-existent and I'm not sure any of the data we collected (which was exactly non for the snorkellers, but the divers did do some) was actually used for anything. So again it was more like a sightseeing trip. Operation Wallace could be more transparent about the total cost of going on an expedition. The actual OpWall fee was less than half of my eventual costs, and the cost of internal travel and courses could have been made more clear. Some of the staff were not very professional in their behaviour towards students and local people which made it feel all the more uncomfortable. A lot of the staff did not seem to know much about OpWall or how it works, and it felt like OpWall had just hired some free labour without telling them much about anything. For the amount that we paid for this experience, and the way in which it is advertised as a 'research assistant' and a good scientific experience, the experience should have been a lot better. I feel I barely gained any research skills, only the experience of traveling to a remote location and surviving in basic conditions. While it was a nice way to see lots of wildlife, it does not fulfill the promise of a scientific experience. That being said, I have had better experiences at a different OpWall location.

Madagascar with Opwall!! What an experience! From the moment I met my fellow Research Assistants (that I would spend the next month - 3 weeks on the Terrestrial sites and 1 on the Marine site of Nosy Be - with), I knew I was in for a good time. The people working and volunteering on this project come from a variety of backgrounds, but have in common a passion for the wonders of nature. Madagascar is definitely the place to see some of those! As a RA you really get to take part in all the different projects going on, and it's so satisfying to know that all the data you help collect is actually going to be used for something important. The staff, both Malagasy and foreign, were amazing, super friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. You'd think that after weeks without wifi you'd get bored, but the conversation, card games & books available at the site make sure that never happens. In all honesty, the days are so active (you do a LOT of walking and it gets pretty hot!) that in my free time I was mostly napping or eating (about that....expect rice. A lot of rice). If you're considering volunteering with Opwall, I would 100% recommend Madagascar - unfortunately, much of the natural landscape is getting destroyed at a scary rate, so a lot of the amazing wildlife unique to this enormous country is already suffering, so it really should be a priority to study and protect it. My month there really cemented in my mind the idea that conservation work is what I want to do in the future, and it helped me to make a decision about what direction to take with my studies. I learnt a lot about Madagascar ecology and wildlife, of course, but also gained a lot of insight about the technical side of this kind of work - how to write a good CV, what employers look for, etc. All in all, I genuinely feel like I had a once in a lifetime experience and gained skills and knowledge that will serve me in my future career.

In the summer 2019, I spent a month as a Research Assistant in Madagascar, two weeks in the dry forests of Mahamavo and two diving around the island of Nosy Be. I honestly don’t have the words to explain what an incredible opportunity it was to work with Operation Wallacea! It was 100% worth my frantic fundraising efforts as the experiences and skills I have gained will benefit and inspire me throughout my degree and beyond. Madagascar is such a diverse and beautiful place to learn about conservation with a team of some of the most inspiring people. Not only is there so much to see in terms of the wildlife, but the culture as well. The Malagasy people are very knowledgeable about the life within the forests so it was very useful to work with them as they taught me so much more than I could have hoped for in the short time that i was there. They are also very welcoming and it was lovely to have the opportunity to visit local villages and schools. It is heartbreaking how little of the natural habitat is left so I would strongly urge anyone with a passion for the environment and conservation to see first hand the wonders that need saving.