This inspiring memoir of one woman’s experience in the field is an exotic adventure story, a surprise journey of self-discovery, and a deeply personal appreciation of a place that’s unlike any other.At age twenty-five, graduate student Keriann McGoogan traveled into the wilds of Madagascar to study lemurs in their natural habitat and to set up a permanent field site in the remote northwest–a … remote northwest–a site to which she could later return to do research for her PhD in biological anthropology. Despite careful planning, the trip spiraled out of control. Food poisoning, harrowing backcountry roads, grueling hikes, challenging local politics, malaria, and an emergency evacuation would turn a simple reconnaissance into an epic adventure.
In an engaging narrative, the author vividly describes the challenges of life in an isolated forest region while also bringing to life the wonders of Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity, especially its many varieties of lemurs. Sadly, these rare animals are the most endangered group of primates in the world.
At first accompanied by her thesis advisor, McGoogan is soon left alone when her mentor must return home. She carries on as the lone woman amid a small band of local male assistants, diligently conducting research on the lemur population around the camp. But when her right-hand man becomes delirious with malaria, she is forced to lead her team on a desperate three-day trek to safety.
This fascinating memoir is equal parts a journey of self-discovery, an adventure story, and a heartfelt appreciation of a wonderful island country teaming with unique species and peopled by the warm and welcoming Malagasies with their intriguing indigenous culture.
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Chasing Lemurs is a novel that made me feel like I was on an adventure. A book about exploring the nature of Madagascar and scouting out lemurs. What isn’t to love?
This novel tells the story of Kerriann traveling to Madagascar in hopes of studying lemurs. We follow her adventures, along with some misadventures, as she travels north with her project crew from the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, eventually ending up in the remote area of Kasijy Reserve.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt as though I could relate to the author in many ways. I took an anthropology class during my undergrad as well, and I can definitely understand her pull to the subject and how intriguing it is. I am also an overall big animal lover, and very passionate about protecting our environment as well. This book gave me the perfect balance of learning about animals and the environment in Madagascar. I definitely recommend this book, and am very thankful that NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read it!
Kerriann McGoogan falls in love with primates, lemurs to be exact. What’s not to love? They are cute, intelligent, and a lot like us. Lemurs live in Madagascar. They are critically endangered. This book is about Keriann’s experience as a grad student setting up a project to study lemurs in a section of the Madagascar rainforest and the challenges the team she was part of faced.
I love these books because I am not a good traveler but I was to know about these far-flung parts of the world and the people who live in them. However, once I start to sweat and a bug bites me it is all over. I don’t do discomfort well. I never wish I lived in another time. I like being comfortable with AC and indoor plumbing. That said I admire people who can cope with hot humid weather and bugs and write about with humor as Keriann does. I truly admire her pluck hiking in the jungle, wading through rivers, braving so-called primitive roads in jeeps, going to cities where you don’t speak the language or understand the customs, eat the food and make your own drinking water, brave hostile natives, make your hiking trails with a machete, absolutely no modern conveniences, separated from those you love for months at a time, all for conservation efforts 70% of the world don’t even care about. One thing I did learn, well I learned a lot actually about fieldwork, was the more research available about an animal the less likely the extinction if the animal. Did I say I loved this book? Read it in a day. Thank you to all the Kerrianns out there who do this kind of work. The maps and photos are excellent also. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
This was a fun adventure to read about, as we follow Keriann McGoogan’s first trip to Madagascar to study Lemurs
The story takes place in a time when the author was a graduate student, traveling into a remote area in the northwest of the country, working to later be able to return to do her research for her PhD in biological anthropology.
In the beginning she is accompanied by her thesis advisor, who soon after they arrive in the area where they want to set up camp, needs to head back home, leaving her as the only female and with only two local students who spoke some English. This was a challenge as things beyond her control began to happen, and she was the only one in charge to solve these problems.
This whole story is full of wonderful descriptions of the country and the diversity of lemurs in the area, but it also explains all of the hard work just to be able to set up a camp, and the hardships and scares that come along with being in such a remote area.
I look forward to more stories of her adventures.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the copy of this book