Bizarre ‘panda bat’ found in South Sudan

World Coffee Research Initiative in South Sudan
By Emma Bladyka, SCAA Coffee Science Manager
The Scene: It was the tail end of the dry season in South Sudan. Our base camp, located in the small village of Jonglei, was dusty and despite being at 1100 meters elevation, was well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I had just hiked up all 1100 of these meters, much of which were unshaded, with only the water I could carry. Small huts made of mud and straw sat in the shade of large, broad leaved trees. There was a loud thump next to me and when I looked down I discovered a blushing yellow-green mango. The village was full of mango trees (or maybe, the mango grove was full of village). Somehow, in the most desolate season, these mango trees produce an astonishing abundance of beautiful huge fruit, oozing with sweet juicy nectar for all thirsty residents (and visiting scientists) to consume to their heart’s content. It is an amazing feat and I could not help but stop and revel in the sheer ingenuity of those trees. The mango roots systems must have been extensive and the trees resilient to support such production during the long dry season. A moment short lived, I only marveled as long as it took me to get out my knife and dig into a thirst quenching fruit. I was not there for the mangos; I was there in search of something more elusive, perhaps an even more extraordinary plant, Coffea arabica.