The excitement aboard the Delfin II this morning was palpable, as we prepared for our first introduction by foot into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Properly fitted out with rubber boots we are prepared for hell or high water, and of course this time of year it is the high water that we expect to see! At a place known locally as “Casual”, we step off the skiffs onto relatively dry land. This area is slightly raised above the highest reaches of the river, called terra firma, which gives us the opportunity to trek through the forest in relatively dry conditions—at least as dry as it gets in humidity bordering on that of drinking water!
Deep now in the rainforest, our senses are challenged as we look, listen, smell and even feel for animals in the dense foliage. In addition to our expert naturalist, we have three sharp-eyed locals who quickly find and share for viewing and photos an abundance of wildlife most of us didn’t suspect was there. After all, life here in the rainforest is all about hiding, either from predators, or as a predator hoping to sneak up on your breakfast!
First up is a juvenile brown-throated three-toed sloth, right at eye level and absolutely posing for our cameras. Cameras click and whir as we all become “sloth-full”. Several reptiles are found and photographed as well, including a young green anaconda and a red-tailed boa constrictor, as well as a beautiful male western leaf lizard. A pink-toed tarantula and a red-backed poison frog round out our discoveries in the forest.
After cooling our bodies, and replenishing our energy with a scrumptious lunch, we head out by skiff to explore the confluence of the Pucate and Yanayacu rivers. Two different species of river dolphins are on hand to greet us. The larger of the two, the Amazon River dolphin we simply call “pink”, as blood is so close to their skin that they have an intense pink coloration. At just about a meter in length, the diminutive bufeo grís, we simply call “gray”. Both species have spent most of the afternoon giving us quite a good look at them from the ship, though trying to photograph them is another story completely!
We arrive back to the Delfin II just as the sun is setting up river, sharing with great animation the findings of the day. We have had the very smallest of glimpses into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, and have come away amazed at what lies waiting for us in the forest. Stay tuned dear reader, for certainly there are more exciting discoveries to share with you!
