VERONARINDRA RAMANANJATO
Student Researcher—La Mananara Site
Vero is a PhD Student in the Razafindratsima Lab in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California Berkeley. She was born and raised in Madagascar and has conducted scientific research in Madagascar since 2017. She is interested in understanding the cascading impacts of disturbances on animal communities and ecosystems, and primarily works with mouse lemurs in Madagascar’s rainforests. You can learn more about Vero’s work here: https://vramananjato.com/
Q&A with Vero
What draws you to a career in wildlife conservation?
Travel and asthma. I always wanted a job that would allow me to travel and be outside, and I was more than pleased when I learned that as a researcher you got to do so multiple times a year. Also, growing up with asthma in the city, I realized very early the importance of clean air and nature in people’s health and well-being; so, I wanted to contribute to conservation as much as possible.
Who or what inspires you?
Field trips in high school and college have played a critical role in exposing me to jobs related to nature. They not only took me to amazing places in my country that I was not able to discover otherwise, but they also taught me the importance of learning about people’s consideration and relationship with nature via culture and identity.
Is there a book has influenced you or made a strong impression?
I love any books written by Guillaume Musso and Abby Jimenez; they are amazing writers. Both authors have this incredible way of putting you into the character’s shoes, such that you can empathize with their life and then understand people’s decisions in real life when it comes to living with an incurable disease, mental health issues, and abuse. But, if I must pick, I will say Central Park by G. Musso and Part of Your World by A. Jimenez – they both taught me that life is not always black and white, but there are millions of shades of grey that you can enjoy and learn from.
What is your favorite food?
Ravitoto sy henakisoa with vary gasy sy lasary voatabia – I know very Malagasy of me. Also, since I came to the USA, I can’t resist a bagel with cream cheese and tuna, or peanut butter-filled pretzels.
What is your favorite movie?
I don’t have any, but I wouldn’t mind watching Made of Honor and We Bought a Zoo at any time.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Australia – just because in my mind (not sure why), it is Madagascar in a bigger format since it has stunning landscapes with uniquely cool animals. Alaska to see what it is like to live in a place where the sun barely sets or rises.
Besides lemurs, what is one of your favorite animals, and why?
Dolphins! They are intelligent, very cute, and will teach you a memorable lesson if you mess up with them. And German shepherds—always ready to play, extremely loyal, and the right size for a hug.
Why do you care about Madagascar and its wildlife?
Just because we won’t find them anywhere else but Madagascar. There is no turning back once we lose them.