Monkey island

We returned to the lodge for 7:30 AM breakfast. Then we got in the boat at 8:30 AM to go to Monkey Island.
This is a refuge for monkeys because they are endangered due to being hunted by the tribes. ESpecially after the big flood of May 2012 which was the highest water ever. Many people lost their food supplies and this causes huge problems for the animal populations as they do more hunting.
They have rescued these monkeys from the black market trade. They are usually in very bad shape physically and are mostly orphaned babies that are being smuggled. They give them milk and medicines to help them survive. There are about 35 monkeys living right around the center and about 150 living in the wilds on their own on this island. Some are very tame, others are not. We walked around the island and heard monkeys but didn't see many in the wild part. They have planted lots of fruits and food sources on this island for the monkeys and some of this was destroyed in the flood.
The goal is to repopulate the monkey into natural habitat.
Varieties: spider, tamarinds, howler, Wooley, titi

Oct 30. Tuesday 6 AM bird watch

We got up early, grabbed a cup of Peruvian coffee and jumped in an open boat. We went across the Amazon to an Island. We putted along the island identifying birds and taking some pictures.
Below: yellow hooded blackbird, oriole blackbird, white winged swallow, kingfisher, huezin

Night hike

We went on a night walk at 6:30pm and it was pitch black. It was the ultimate spooky Halloween experience. We saw many creepy crawly things. 6 of us went following Orlando our guide looking with flashlights. Pictures below: red rumpled tarantula, pink toed tarantula, sleeping manakin bird, katydids, a large and small red eyed toad and the thing that most excited Orlando was the two toes sloth coming down the tree to do its weekly poop!
It was fun and after the walk we had dinner and went to bed!

Ceiba lodge

After we reached Ceiba lodge we took a swim in the very nice pool It was lovely and there is a big slide that is very fast. The water is very warm.
Pictures below show some of the buildings: the rooms, the large screen lodge is bar, dining and lobby. The smaller is the hammock house. The grounds are full of flowers landscapes with native plants taken from the surrounding jungle preserve they own.
There is also a resident tapir. It was rescued as a young orphan. It followed us to our room one time and we had to rush to get in and close the door as we knew we couldn't win a shoving match with it.

Some Amazon creatures along the way

While walking on various trails we have seen some fun things. Gavin, even one I'm quite proud of spotting.

Shaman or Medicine Man of the Shipobu

We learned about some herbal medicines from the rainforest. Wild garlic for sinus and asthma. A Fer de lanz tree that resembles the snake by the same name and is an antidote. Marigold relative shrub - pain relief. Dragons blood which is good as a coagulant on wounds and for mothers who just gave birth. Cats Claw for almost everything: arthritis, cancer, prostate inflamation and much more.
Barrie and Mary Jane participated in a healing ceremony which finished by putting orchid nectar on our hands to be rubbed onto our faces. Beautiful fragrance.