Dr Nancy Priston

Well, I’ve just arrived back in Indonesia for my 12th year of fieldwork in Sulawesi. This year will be a challenge – only a few months ago over half of one of the study troops of monkeys were killed by local farmers after stealing their banana crops. So it seems conflict may be increasing in the area. I’m looking forward to getting to the island to see the situation for myself – to see how the remaining monkeys are faring and to talk to the farmers to understand what prompted this sudden change of approach to managing the situation. Before I can do that though I need to get all my research permits and visa’s sorted, stamped, and signed off, so it’s a fun-redtape-filled few days in Jakarta and Kendari (mainland Sulawesi) first!