Acknowledgements

On most of my trips to these islands I had a few reliable people, who kept me alive in one way or the other. Saw Aghu was with me the 6 months on Great Nicobar. He got Typhoid repeatedly and finally gave it to me. Without him I would not have been able to tag almost every turtle that beached to nest (136 leather backs and 181 ridleys if I  remember right) in that window of 3 to 4 weeks. Uncle Paungway took care of me that night on Interview island. Honestly that has been my worst night ever; with no way to reach or radio the nearest town and boiling within from the Malarial fever, I was not expecting to make it to the next morning. Earlier that day we had been chased by elephants, and I was not in a position to walk. I had to be carried up a tree where I was left till the elephant was chased away (unfortunately they left me on a termite nest; I was too sick to move and could only have fallen from the tree).

(the above acknowledgement was written post three years of field work; I should acknowledge separately for the just completed field work)

Working over the last few years, I have experienced many things and people. The people have varied from great to upsetting. Last summer I was welcomed to India and the islands by a colleague (amphibian guy in the islands) who told me "... I do not own these islands, so I will not stop you from working here..." Of course I realized that meant whatever collaborative study we were planning and the material he had collected would not be shared. Some months later I came to find out that I was the cause of this same person being fired/sacked. I also heard that I was replicating his work and being very selfish. Quite amusing, really!! The herpworld is small and full of gossip, I have proven it again with some fictitious probabilities that I commented on some months ago that came back to me from another pseudo-colleague implicating me in smuggling biological material from the country. On this I shall set the record right in this journal - All research work above and over the last five years has been conducted within whatever legal framework exists, i.e. no law has been violated.

Harry Andrews is thanked for his continued support, patience and for use of facilities and funds. Saw Agu has been with me on many field excursions and he has been very reliable and instrumental in certain important collections. Saw Glan is a wonderful person to have in the hardest of circumstances, he can make even dead people laugh, simply hillarious. Unfortunately due to certiain logistical issues he has not been on the field with me in a few years, but has entertained us in the base. The Wildlife department is thanked for granting permits after spending all of our time and most of our money.

Cameras : Nikon FM 10 (35mm to 70mm and extension rings used; vivtar 1200 flash and a used ring flash that blew after the Bronchocela danielli was shot)

Nikon CoolPix 8700 : This is an awesome camera, great functionality and picture quality. BUT an idiot designed the camera. AND it does not work above 85% relative humidity - In these Islands its always over 85 and usually over 100% RH. The only way to take pictures with this camera under such conditions is to drink alot of Toddy, Handia, Jungli, any modern alcohols...

This page and of course all the pictures here) were supported/funded by the University of Texas at Arlington, Explorers Club International, Society for Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Phi Sgma- UTA, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust