Our Team

MDI is a group of scientists and veterinarians working together with dedicated volunteers from all over the world to help dogs, wildlife, and people in Madagascar.

Co-Director, Dr. Kim Valenta

Kim Valenta is an assistant professor at the University of Florida. She studies animal-plant interactions in Uganda and Madagascar, and what happens to co-evolved systems when they are altered by humans.

In-Country Director, Dr. Zoavina Randriana

Zoavina Randriana earned her veterinary degree from the University of Antananarivo, as well as a Master’s in Conservation at the University of Oxford. She has extensive experience working with international conservation NGOs, first joining MDI as a veterinarian in 2014.

Veterinarian, Dr. Tsiky Rajaonarivelo

Tsiky Rajaonarivelo is a vet who has been working with the Mad Dog Initiative since 2015. She has completed advanced surgical training on a winter trip to Winnipeg, Canada, as well as specialized lemur medicine and husbandry training at the Duke Lemur Center, in Durham, N.C.

Co-founder, Director of Population Research and Modelling, Dr. Zach Farris

Zach Farris a professor at App State University who studies carnivore ecology across Madagascar. He combines non-invasive sampling with population modeling to investigate the impact of human disturbance, hunting, forest loss, and exotic species on native carnivores and lemurs. 

Logistics manager, Ange Nandrianina Raharinirina

Ange is a student of veterinary medicine at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. She is writing her thesis on parasite patterns in mouse lemurs in the fragmented landscape surrounding Analanjirofo. Ange volunteered for MDI 2022 and remains actively engaged in MDI’s free spay/neuter clinics and rabies campaign.

Director of Special Projects, Dr. Tara Clarke

Tara Clarke is a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, and has conducted conservation, outreach, and research in Madagascar for 15 years. Her current work is aimed at understanding the lemur pet trade.

Project Manager, Radoniaina Rafaliarison

Rado Rafaliarison is a PhD candidate at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. Rado has spent years working to study and conserve Madagascar’s native fauna and flora, in many of the country’s national parks. Rado has been with MDI since 2015.

Volunteer Coordinator, Yan-Daniel Jacques

Yan is a long-time animal lover who has volunteered to help dogs throughout the world, and is fluent in French and English. To inquire about volunteer opportunities, please contact Yan directly by email at: mdivolunteers@gmail.com

Director of COLLABORATIVE outreach, Dr. abby ross

Abby Ross is a primatologist whose research broadly focuses on maternal care relationships, environmental/reproductive endocrinology, and nutritional ecology in lemurs. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation (TDARFAC).