Rattus Indeterminus

The rat guys are really an interesting group. I’ve been following their efforts; never really had much contact with real life field biology, even though that was my early life choice for a profession. They are actually having some fun with a true scientific challenge. They thought they were coming to deal with just one kind of rat; then they thought they had rats and some kind of mice. Now they have determined that what they have is two different species of rat, the common Polynesian rat that they were expecting to find, and something that they have not been able to identify as yet. They are doing all kinds of measurements of feet, ears, teeth, tails and organs to try to make a taxonomic identification, but they have reached the limit of their library on the island, and of course the internet is ridiculously slow for sending (and receiving) pictures which they are trying to exchange with colleagues who are experts in Asian rats that they may not have seen before. It makes a difference in knowing what kind of bait to use for the critters as well as what kind of traps or poisons to try. They are quite enthused by the challenge and I can appreciate that.
The clinic remains boring, weather remains hot and clear, except when it is hot and raining, and all is well but I do miss home. I don’t see how people do this for a year, or as in the case of many of the Thais, many years. One of them has been here for 21 years, going home to see his family for 6 weeks every year. It is very good money for them, so I guess that makes it worthwhile, compared to living in Thailand where they say jobs are scarce and pay much less. I suppose you make your choices based on your circumstances; I’m glad I don’t have to make that kind of choice.