Barro Colorado Island, Gatun Lake, Panama
We woke up this morning in front of the oldest rainforest reserve in the Western hemisphere, Barro Colorado Island Nature Monument.
We were visited just before breakfast by Dr. Egbert Leigh who boarded the Sea Voyager to welcome us to BCI. Dr. Egbert Leigh is a renowned biologist and author of Tropical Forest Ecology: A View from Barro Colorado Island, and his latest book, A Magic Web: The Forest of Barro Colorado. As a resident researcher of BCI his contribution to the knowledge of tropical biology is unquestionable. It was a great honor to have him address our guests and welcome us to this wonderful day in Gatun Lake. Barro Colorado is the largest island here, holding a tremendous amount of flora and fauna, making this a truly wonderful place to study tropical biology.. The Island is administrated by the Smithsonian Institute, and was first studied by the American Academy of Science in 1923, then by way of congress pass over to the Smithsonian Institute in 1946.
Our outing consisted of two trails on the island and Zodiac rides in and out of the several coves of the island. Most of the reports were of mammals: howlers, white faced and spider monkeys, white tailed deer and the array of bats which this island is known for.
This is an island that is rarely visited by the general public, due to its sensitivity and ongoing research, it is a privilege to visit this natural monument to tropical biology.
All the outings were back on board before lunch. By 2pm we lifted anchor and continued on our second leg of transiting the Panama Canal. The spirits were high and the interest was peaking. This waterway is a magnet to most people’s imagination and romance with a history as the eighth wonder of the world. We can say it is a great way to end this wonderful week of expedition aboard the Sea Voyager.
We woke up this morning in front of the oldest rainforest reserve in the Western hemisphere, Barro Colorado Island Nature Monument.
We were visited just before breakfast by Dr. Egbert Leigh who boarded the Sea Voyager to welcome us to BCI. Dr. Egbert Leigh is a renowned biologist and author of Tropical Forest Ecology: A View from Barro Colorado Island, and his latest book, A Magic Web: The Forest of Barro Colorado. As a resident researcher of BCI his contribution to the knowledge of tropical biology is unquestionable. It was a great honor to have him address our guests and welcome us to this wonderful day in Gatun Lake. Barro Colorado is the largest island here, holding a tremendous amount of flora and fauna, making this a truly wonderful place to study tropical biology.. The Island is administrated by the Smithsonian Institute, and was first studied by the American Academy of Science in 1923, then by way of congress pass over to the Smithsonian Institute in 1946.
Our outing consisted of two trails on the island and Zodiac rides in and out of the several coves of the island. Most of the reports were of mammals: howlers, white faced and spider monkeys, white tailed deer and the array of bats which this island is known for.
This is an island that is rarely visited by the general public, due to its sensitivity and ongoing research, it is a privilege to visit this natural monument to tropical biology.
All the outings were back on board before lunch. By 2pm we lifted anchor and continued on our second leg of transiting the Panama Canal. The spirits were high and the interest was peaking. This waterway is a magnet to most people’s imagination and romance with a history as the eighth wonder of the world. We can say it is a great way to end this wonderful week of expedition aboard the Sea Voyager.
