Yanayacu and Pucate Rivers
Our expedition in the Upper Amazon began today with a gorgeous sunrise at the confluence of the Yanayacu and Marañon Rivers. After an early morning skiff ride, we split into small groups for our first taste of the rainforest. The area we walked was varzea forest, which will flood for 2-4 months of the year. Almost perfectly flat, our only elevation change was at the numerous leaf cutter ant mounds. A few of the colonies were extra active today, a stream of tiny green leaves returning in procession. Butterflies were abundant, and numerous caterpillars were also spotted. One had a long spine sticking off its hind end, and would flick it when we got too close.
The most massive trees in this forest mainly are in the fig family or gigantic Ceiba trees. With wide buttress roots and perfectly straight trunks, these canopy emergents are truly an impressive sight. Many other plants were discussed, including the multitude of medicinal plants, and the common trees used in local house construction. Of course, the impressive flowers of the Heliconias and Costas were excellent for photography.
After a short, but intense rainstorm, we set off in the skiffs to explore the black, tannin rich Yanayacu and Pucate Rivers. Here the focus was on wildlife. Numerous sloths were spotted, one actually descending a trunk quite rapidly. Bird activity after the rain was very high, and parrots and parakeets were especially active. A few Red-bellied Macaws were spotted but the real stunners were the few pairs of brilliant Red-and-Green Macaws. Kingfishers were spaced about every one hundred yards, and many different raptors as well.
We also helped take part in an important and quite successful conservation project. River turtles are a delicacy to the local people, and had been quite rare. But, the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve has a special project where locals raise thousands of local turtle eggs, and then are allowed to eat and sell some. They just had some hatch, and we each got one baby turtle, and took it into a remote area and released them into the wild. Hopefully, they will grow successfully to maturity and lay many more eggs. It is a very exciting project and certainly a treat to be a part of.
