Author Archives: caribiologist

In my home country I try to buy organic stuff. I am convinced this is healthier so I avoid chemicals as much as possible. With this spoilt attitude I arrived in Zambia and learned the hard way that, sometimes, chemicals are your best friend. I was outraged by the thought of my room being sprayedContinue reading “Chemicals please!”

It has been silent for a while here but in the background quite some progress has been made. Two days ago I drank a whiskey on fish number 700. Needed to remind myself about how much work it was to test all these fish in the field. What does it mean to test one fishContinue reading “Fish number 700!”

Good news!!!! We’re only here since about a week and have already tested over 60 fish. That’s pretty amazing b but you probably guess that I am not writing a post just to tell you how smooth everything is going…would be very unlike Zambia. The story began the day before yesterday when our compressor stoppedContinue reading “Welcome to Zambia…”

In a previous post, I mentioned the interesting fact that fish show personality. I am especially interested in the cichlids’ tendency to explore their environment. You can also call it curiosity. What sounds fun (and indeed is!) is also quite an endeavour. Divers need to catch the fish first and then the fish are assessedContinue reading “Defending fish against greedy cats”

Although we are now in the dry season of Zambia, the water level of Lake Tanganyika is unusually high. When I arrived in the very north of Zambia, this little hut (photo above) was almost swallowed by the lake. Several friends that live in the little villages close to the shore told me they neededContinue reading “The water rises…”

In no other country have I experienced so many coincidences and surprises as in Zambia. I haven’t really figured out the reasons for it but many locals believe in magic… After a very difficult journey, I finally arrived in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Since I spent quite some months in this country during theContinue reading “Zambia – the country of surprises”

Currently sitting at the airport of Addis Ababa and hoping that my connection flight doesn’t get cancelled. I am not as sure as I used to be if Zambia will let me in. But after what I had to go through to be here in Addis, I really hope so. Our new reality is muchContinue reading “Third world country problems?”

I guess I have always been a bit different from the other members of my family…picking up slugs from the streets, kissing earthworms and petting jellyfish (outch sometimes). While my granny was not very impressed by the idea of dedicating my life to study “squidgy, stupid” fish, I am actually thrilled about it. Fish canContinue reading ““Fish are squidgy and stupid- why would you study them?” (My beloved granny)”