Jungle Book

Day 57 of life in the jungle. Dispatched a scorpion.

A note to those who do not have the guts (or desire) of Bear Grylls to get close enough to cut off its tail (and eat it); I would recommend rubber boots and a full length wooden brush (a toilet brush and a rock did not succeed). Wait until its climbing a wall (or in a clear space) then strike hard with the solid part of the brush (the bit above the bristles).  Do not stop until all its innards are visible and it has taken a 2D form (they can play dead; ensure they ARE dead beyond dead). For good measures, flush down the toilet. I was sorry that I was going to kill it before I did, after all it was just as afraid of me as I of it, but that is one thing I didn’t want to see in my cabin again. With other creepy-crawlies in my sleeping quarters, I try to guide them out of the door/leave them alone. (However when I first arrived I got the can of bug-destroyer on them pronto… how times have changed).

I’ve had 2 jaunts in the forest to date. One short tour and one half day trek. It’s not flat here by any means. The forest terrain goes sharply up and sharply down where streams run along the dips (and there are lots of them, dips and streams). The vegetation is what you expect from a primary forest; very tall trees with high branches, which take most of the sunlight and not too much life at ground level. However the forest is continually recycling so the floor is always covered in things that have fallen, so movement can be impeded and a machete is useful (or someone else carrying one). Movement is best on flat areas, whilst the slopes have more plants taking up ground level (and the soil is more slippery for you to fall on (or down as I may have done)). The land is more swamp like near the major river (and much more dense with plants) due to overflow during the wet season or from general heavy down-pours. The plants and trees themselves are varied; with edible or inedible (though enjoyed by animals) fruits, spiked stems, bunched roots, multi-coloured flowers, man-sized leaves and seeds/pods of odd shapes and sizes.

I saw monkeys in the trees and Rey (the guy who looks after the centre) pointed out the signs of animal life on the ground. Turtles live in the forest (and are an Indian delicacy) and one wandered up to the centre, much to the dogs’ distress, and it was duly returned back to the forest (not big enough for us to eat). Vampire bats can be seen flying around the garden from dusk every day and one reason why I don’t hang about too long when crossing between buildings at night, (them and the things that lurk at ground level). Rey found a snakeskin near the perimeter of the centre and the jungle which was close to 6 foot long… I hope I don’t come across its owner any time soon. The insects here are so varied in colour, shape and size, you can’t help but stare at them (before shooing them away). Some glow green at night, kind of eerie.

In the area lives the Capybara, the largest rodent in the world. It is an interesting creature, its hair brown and bristly, teeth are rodent shaped (few, central and long) as are the ears and prefers to dwell in water.  An adult one is the size of a large dog and it just so happens that the neighbours down the road have one (reared from a baby). They are normally killed locally for their meat but whilst the rest of this one’s family ended up on the plate, it itself was spared. Fascinating creatures to look at, and since this particular Capybara was brought up amongst dogs, it does behave rather like one, i.e. likes to be stroked and have its belly rubbed. Its food preference however is fruit.

Being near the equator at this time of year is interesting as the sun passes from the northern hemisphere to its southern counterpart. I am situated a few degrees south of the equatorial line and the sun passed over the equator on the 21^st September, which means during my time here it will have been (at different dates) due north, directly overhead and due south at midday. Pretty cool! Sunrise and sunset near the equator is close to 6am and 6pm all year round, and none of the lovely long sunsets of Britain, when the sun departs, the light quickly follows suit.

So there you have a scratch into the local geography and animal inhabitancy of the place, I hope it has added to your knowledge of the Amazon (even if this area represents a very small corner of the largest tropical forest in the world). It truly is a special place and one that is every surprising and I am still learning and seeing new things even after 2 months stay.