The End of an Era

After over 6 years of intensive research and community development work in and around the Yachana Reserve, GVI Amazon is coming to a close. We have finished our final research project (look forward to our Road Effects paper, coming soon!) and are handing over the project to our partner, The Yachana Foundation. They will continue to maintain and monitor the reserve, using it as an hands-on science education center for students -- we're very excited to see what fabulous things this next generation of scientists find! For more detail on GVI Amazon's closure, and our accomplishments over the years, please read on...
GVI Amazon Closure Statement

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

La Cascada

After the usual early breakfast, sat campers had a bit of time to rest before beginning their preparations for their adventure ahead. Food for dinner and breakfast had to be prepared for all heading out for the night. Along with their personal clothes and equipment, everyone had to make sure they packed a hammock, tarpaulin, water, cooking utensils and firewood. It's no easy undertaking heading out in the rainforest for a night!


After lunch the group set off on their journey to La Cascada. En route, the hilly, muddy terrain and hot sun on their backs, was definite cause for lots of breaks for water and rest. All the efforts to get to camp was definitely worthwhile as the volunteers were rewarded with a spectacular waterfall at their destination. On arrival the priority is set up camp - hammocks need to be strung up, which is always a challenge the first time and leaves many wondering if they will last the night sleeping peacefully, or wake up with a thud if their hammock becomes lose and dumps them unceremoniously to the ground. The thought is enough to ensure that everyone does a thorough job! Once set, all are ready for their meal (prepared earlier!) and a nice cup of tea, before embarking on the much anticipated nightwalk. It didn't disappoint, the sat campers were treated to many sigthings including; three enormous Cane Toads (Bufo marinus), a dung beetle (unidentified, there are so many it's tricky to pinpoint), a stick insect (Phasmatodea), lots of different types of spiders and a glimpse of juvenile Common Mussarana (Clelia clelia). Not bad for a night's work!

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