Journal of BCOMING's Field Mission in Guinea: Part 1

Mission Overview: Our team embarked on the fourth field mission organized by CERFIG from November 10th to 29th, 2023, as part of the BCOMING project. The primary objectives were to investigate, capture, and sample rodents while continuing the ecological monitoring of bats in the Samyankhouré cave in Guinea's Kindia prefecture.

Journal of BCOMING's Field Mission in Guinea: Part 1

Setting Up in N'Zérékoré

Our journey began in N'Zérékoré, the largest town in the Forest Region. Despite missing the Director of Agriculture and Livestock, we met with the Deputy Director to kickstart administrative formalities. Later, we headed to the sub-prefecture of Gouécké, 42km away, to meet with local authorities. The warm welcome set a positive tone for our mission.

 

Engaging with Local Communities

In Gouécké, our team introduced itself and its objectives to the Sub-Prefect, receiving support to find a suitable campsite. We engaged with the communities of Céoba, explaining our mission and seeking permission to place rodent traps in homes and food shops. Dr. Julien LOUA and Mr. Dalaolo LOUA graciously acted as guides, facilitating our interactions with the villagers.

 

Capturing Rodents

Armed with 100 traps, we strategically placed them in the village and surrounding areas. Despite some traps failing, we successfully captured four rodents and one shrew. The captured animals underwent euthanasia and organ removal as part of our research protocol. Detailed measurements were taken for identification, and samples were collected for genetic analysis.

 

As we continue our mission, we're optimistic about the insights we'll gain to further our understanding of biodiversity and disease transmission dynamics. Stay tuned for more updates from the field!

 

Stay tuned for the next installment of our journal as we continue our field mission in Guinea!

You can access the full mission report in French here.

Posted on
Project - Main ivory-coast-and-guinea

Read more blog post

Protect Insects, Protect Biodiversity:

This Saturday, October 12th, we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. This year’s theme, “Protect Insects, Protect Birds,” is the perfect example of how species and ecosystems are interconnected and depend on each other to thrive.

Read more

BCOMING x Fauna & Flora Cambodia Takeover

This September, Fauna & Flora and BCOMING took on a very special campaign: The Cambodia Takeover series, bringing attention to the vital work that is being carried out in the country. Every Thursday, we’ve explored different facets of Cambodia’s unique biodiversity, highlighting Fauna & Flora’s work while fostering a deeper understanding of the country’s natural heritage. Through this collaboration, we wanted to show the incredible work being done by Fauna & Flora and how it ties into the broader goals of the BCOMING project. 

Read more

BCOMING - Bats ectoparasites study

The BCOMING project aims to conduct a thorough evaluation of biodiversity across various anthropogenic gradients and scales. In Cambodia, the scientific team is focusing on the bat interface as a key component, not only to assess zoonotic risk but also to understand broader ecological dynamics. Among the features being evaluated are the communities of bats' ectoparasites, which play important roles in bats’ ecosystem health and disease transmission dynamics between them. Bats harbor a diverse array of ectoparasites, including fleas, flies, ticks, and mites for examples, and are an integral part to the intricate relationships between them, their hosts, and the environment. Despite being often overlooked, these ectoparasites appear to be essential ecological components and can serve as indicators of ecosystem health. While poorly understood, these ectoparasites, through occasional changes of host, could facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases within bat colonies. Two families, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, stand out for their unique adaptations and behaviors within the bat ecosystem.

Read more
Read our blogs, news and events