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

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sat Campers and Fancy Dress!

Friday, those at base bade farewell to the last group of sat campers, who headed out deep into the jungle to the Laguna for a fun filled night of caiman, scorpions, campfire songs - “who kicked Nelly in the Belly?” and more jungle hammock shenanigans (yes Dan!)..…..Oh yes and the odd baked potato complete with butter!

Meanwhile back at camp, a group of bird transectors went out at dawn and spotted Black-mantled Tamarins (Saguinus nigricollis) crossing the road as well as a great selection of early morning bird traffic. Somewhere else in the forest, another group went out with Matt checking the freshly laid dung beetle pitfall traps and found an army of some 60 beetles, (six species all in all).

The volunteers’ second weekend in the rainforest and Saturday morning pancakes provided fuel for more ‘diggin’ in the blazing sunshine. Some got a rare sighting of the elusive Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) and a face to face encounter with Mr. Coral Snake! The afternoon saw a hive of creativity at camp, as preparations were underway for the evening’s ‘Club Tropicana’ themed party organized by Zoe and Megan. The Comedor was full of volunteers and staff dressed in an array of leaves, warrior paint and eyeliner! Congratulations to Steph for her White-throated Toucan, Ali E as the Coral Snake and Dan (the GVI Scholar!) for his Hula Dancer creation! A fun filled night of warm beers, mimed Chinese Whispers and burning boxes round the camp fire! The highlight was the camp guest appearance of the humungous Rose-sided Jungle Frog (Leptodactylus knudseni) who joined in the party around the fire!

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