oloNala
@olonala.bsky.social
oloNala - which means ‘humans’ and ‘forests’ in Malagasy - combines artistic expression & conservation to promote quality education, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development in Madagascar 🦎🎨🇲🇬
https://www.olonala.org
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
https://www.olonala.org
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
The second floor of the oloNala #ArtResidence is well underway! The arched windows facing the Namorona River will be fitted with stained glass thoughtfully arranged in designs emblematic of Malagasy culture - the Ravenala palm & Masoandro (the sun) - translated as the "eye of the day" ☀️ 💛
November 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The second floor of the oloNala #ArtResidence is well underway! The arched windows facing the Namorona River will be fitted with stained glass thoughtfully arranged in designs emblematic of Malagasy culture - the Ravenala palm & Masoandro (the sun) - translated as the "eye of the day" ☀️ 💛
Many thanks to @lemurnetwork.bsky.social for donating two sets of the game - it's a fantastic resource for learning more about the primate species that call #Madagascar home.
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Many thanks to @lemurnetwork.bsky.social for donating two sets of the game - it's a fantastic resource for learning more about the primate species that call #Madagascar home.
October marked our first month as members of the Lemur Conservation Network and the 14th birthday of the Ranomafana Nature Center! And what better way to celebrate than with a round of the LCN's Lemurs! Card Game 🎉
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
October marked our first month as members of the Lemur Conservation Network and the 14th birthday of the Ranomafana Nature Center! And what better way to celebrate than with a round of the LCN's Lemurs! Card Game 🎉
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
@lemurnetwork.bsky.social
For #WorldLemurDay, Centre ValBio organized a trip for Nature Center students to visit Studio oloNala! The students were excited to see the same wildlife they draw in their own sketchbooks reflected on the walls, and gathered inspiration from their own walk through Ranomafana National Park! 🔍🌳
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
For #WorldLemurDay, Centre ValBio organized a trip for Nature Center students to visit Studio oloNala! The students were excited to see the same wildlife they draw in their own sketchbooks reflected on the walls, and gathered inspiration from their own walk through Ranomafana National Park! 🔍🌳
Many thanks to our friends at Centre ValBio and @lemurnetwork.bsky.social
for organizing the festivities here in Ranomafana and around the globe!
for organizing the festivities here in Ranomafana and around the globe!
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Many thanks to our friends at Centre ValBio and @lemurnetwork.bsky.social
for organizing the festivities here in Ranomafana and around the globe!
for organizing the festivities here in Ranomafana and around the globe!
Arahaba Tratry ny Andron'ny Varika! Happy #WorldLemurDay from Ranomafana!
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Arahaba Tratry ny Andron'ny Varika! Happy #WorldLemurDay from Ranomafana!
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
Fantastic to see all the creativity & joy in celebrating these unique species. This year's theme is „Iray ho an'ny varika ho fitsinjovana ny ho avy" - Uniting for the lemurs, to care for the future 💚
With special thanks to @wildwonder.bsky.social, we’ve created a Malagasy translation of their popular "Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling!" This zine is downloadable on their website alongside other languages, to make the nature journaling practice more accessible to anyone who wants to start 🖍
October 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
With special thanks to @wildwonder.bsky.social, we’ve created a Malagasy translation of their popular "Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling!" This zine is downloadable on their website alongside other languages, to make the nature journaling practice more accessible to anyone who wants to start 🖍
More fun with spiders! Nature Center teacher Jocelyn had noticed a large number of orb-weaver #spiders near the marketplace in Ranomafana, Madagascar, and organized a #naturejournaling session so that students could observe them up close & in their webs 🔍🕸️
September 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
More fun with spiders! Nature Center teacher Jocelyn had noticed a large number of orb-weaver #spiders near the marketplace in Ranomafana, Madagascar, and organized a #naturejournaling session so that students could observe them up close & in their webs 🔍🕸️
It’s these kinds of observations that make nature journaling so valuable - slowing down and exploring what’s around you prompts questions about and appreciation for the natural environment 💭
(And if you’re curious, the students found 42 spiders on the building, and 52 on the plants!)
(And if you’re curious, the students found 42 spiders on the building, and 52 on the plants!)
August 29, 2025 at 3:15 AM
It’s these kinds of observations that make nature journaling so valuable - slowing down and exploring what’s around you prompts questions about and appreciation for the natural environment 💭
(And if you’re curious, the students found 42 spiders on the building, and 52 on the plants!)
(And if you’re curious, the students found 42 spiders on the building, and 52 on the plants!)
Last week’s nature journaling session was all about 🕷️❗️
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
August 29, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Last week’s nature journaling session was all about 🕷️❗️
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
Students explored all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of spiders in their area, before heading out to see how many could be found in vegetation versus on buildings - prompting a really neat discussion on camouflage!
First floor of the oloNala #ArtResidency is built 🙌 This section of the building will house studio and gallery space for artists in the future program, offering a dedicated space for working on projects & building portfolios 🖼️ A huge thanks to Sunshine Comes First for sponsoring this initial phase!
August 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
First floor of the oloNala #ArtResidency is built 🙌 This section of the building will house studio and gallery space for artists in the future program, offering a dedicated space for working on projects & building portfolios 🖼️ A huge thanks to Sunshine Comes First for sponsoring this initial phase!
Attending this year’s International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo #Madagascar?
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
July 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Attending this year’s International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo #Madagascar?
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
Head on over to the Centre ValBio info booth to chat with artist and oloNala cofounder Alain Rasolo, snag a print (or two!) from Studio oloNala, and learn more about oloNala & CVB's conservation work 🐒💚
#Naturejournaling fosters a deeper connection between people & place. Slowing down & paying special attention to all the little things not only builds observation and critical thinking skills with regards to the surrounding environment, but encourages the observer to explore their place within it ☀️
July 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
#Naturejournaling fosters a deeper connection between people & place. Slowing down & paying special attention to all the little things not only builds observation and critical thinking skills with regards to the surrounding environment, but encourages the observer to explore their place within it ☀️
Nature journaling is a playful and mindful practice that not only lets students express themselves creatively, but embraces their curiosity about the natural world and complements the lessons they take part in every Saturday at the Nature Center!
June 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Nature journaling is a playful and mindful practice that not only lets students express themselves creatively, but embraces their curiosity about the natural world and complements the lessons they take part in every Saturday at the Nature Center!
Sketchbooks and colored pencils in hand, the students split into groups to practice observing and sketching the plant and animal life around them, including...
🌴 Which trees in the area were fruiting,
🐝 What insects were present in the garden,
🕷️ And how many legs a spider has!
🌴 Which trees in the area were fruiting,
🐝 What insects were present in the garden,
🕷️ And how many legs a spider has!
June 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Sketchbooks and colored pencils in hand, the students split into groups to practice observing and sketching the plant and animal life around them, including...
🌴 Which trees in the area were fruiting,
🐝 What insects were present in the garden,
🕷️ And how many legs a spider has!
🌴 Which trees in the area were fruiting,
🐝 What insects were present in the garden,
🕷️ And how many legs a spider has!
It's happening! 🎉 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
June 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It's happening! 🎉 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
Today, students at the Ranomafana Nature Center in #Madagascar were introduced to the #creative practice of #naturejournaling 🎨
Thanks to your donations, we've purchased art supplies for each of the students, and we're currently working on providing the Center's teachers with some much-needed storage space in the classroom.
✨Stay tuned for updates!
You can support this project here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
✨Stay tuned for updates!
You can support this project here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
April 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Thanks to your donations, we've purchased art supplies for each of the students, and we're currently working on providing the Center's teachers with some much-needed storage space in the classroom.
✨Stay tuned for updates!
You can support this project here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
✨Stay tuned for updates!
You can support this project here: secure.givelively.org/donate/olona...
We're gearing up for our first project with the Ranomafana Nature Center - nature journaling! Working with the teachers there, we've designed a nature journaling practice to complement their lessons, offering visiting students a creative way to explore their surroundings 🎨🖌️
April 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
We're gearing up for our first project with the Ranomafana Nature Center - nature journaling! Working with the teachers there, we've designed a nature journaling practice to complement their lessons, offering visiting students a creative way to explore their surroundings 🎨🖌️
March 8, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Last year, with the help of the Safina Center,we helped VOI Mitsinjo construct a bridge connecting the Andriagna Twin Waterfalls and Vatolahidimy, a cultural site nestled in pristine primary forest. More visitors can now enjoy the forest, while providing sustainable income for the local community!
January 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Last year, with the help of the Safina Center,we helped VOI Mitsinjo construct a bridge connecting the Andriagna Twin Waterfalls and Vatolahidimy, a cultural site nestled in pristine primary forest. More visitors can now enjoy the forest, while providing sustainable income for the local community!
VOI associations, or Vondron’Olona Ifotony, are grassroots community groups in #Madagascar that sustainably manage the forests their communities depend on through ecotourism and eco restoration. VOI Mitsinjo has managed 440 hectares of forest adjacent to Ranomafana National Park since 2020.
January 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
VOI associations, or Vondron’Olona Ifotony, are grassroots community groups in #Madagascar that sustainably manage the forests their communities depend on through ecotourism and eco restoration. VOI Mitsinjo has managed 440 hectares of forest adjacent to Ranomafana National Park since 2020.
According to CVB, 122 hectares of forest burned, including some portions dangerously close to the village of Vohiparara, as seen below. #Climatechange is only making such disasters more frequent and intense, with many communities in #Madagascar feeling the effects disproportionately.
January 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
According to CVB, 122 hectares of forest burned, including some portions dangerously close to the village of Vohiparara, as seen below. #Climatechange is only making such disasters more frequent and intense, with many communities in #Madagascar feeling the effects disproportionately.
We've heard that the area has not had rain since September, despite it being the rainy season. Just yesterday, there were 27 points of fire spread across a nearly 300 hectare area, and 1,600 volunteers from the community spent hours working to put out the fire with shovels and branches.
January 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
We've heard that the area has not had rain since September, despite it being the rainy season. Just yesterday, there were 27 points of fire spread across a nearly 300 hectare area, and 1,600 volunteers from the community spent hours working to put out the fire with shovels and branches.
Absolutely devastating to hear about the #fire consuming Ranomafana National Park in #Madagascar right now. This rainforest protects countless endangered and endemic species of lemurs, birds, amphibians, plants, & insects.This fire threatens not only them, but all the people living by the park too.
January 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Absolutely devastating to hear about the #fire consuming Ranomafana National Park in #Madagascar right now. This rainforest protects countless endangered and endemic species of lemurs, birds, amphibians, plants, & insects.This fire threatens not only them, but all the people living by the park too.
The soon-to-be-built Residency was designed by cofounder Alain Rasolo and incorporates many intricate design elements, reflecting cultural and environmental themes in Madagascar ⬇️
December 27, 2024 at 2:31 AM
The soon-to-be-built Residency was designed by cofounder Alain Rasolo and incorporates many intricate design elements, reflecting cultural and environmental themes in Madagascar ⬇️