Extract from Yasuni trip.....

...While the ladies of leisure retired, the men were ready for amphibian catching and reptile reconnaisance. The men were not far from camp as the last of the laides lights dimmed and the first tree frog was snared. Then another and another. It was a bonanza.

Following some suitable photographs (which will follow), the gents headed into the swamp with anticipation of capturing something larger and more exotic. It was Mikey that first clocked a rustle high up in the canopy. A whistle indicated his location and the others honed in to the base of a 60 foot tree. Guy was there first, followed by Leeron, Matt, then Chris. Mikey gesticulated upwards - and the men remained silent watching and listening. Finally a small movement was detected. The guys fanned out around the tree to catch a glimpse of what now was considered a beast.

Chris courageously moved forward and scratched at the base of the tree to encourage more movement from what was now becoming clear as some kind of behemoth of a mammal lodged in the upper branches. The mammal responded baring its teeth as it scampered initially higher, then lower. The mammal´s red eyes reflected the flashes of torch light - diablos child maybe? It´s large rodent figure spanned several meters along a sturdy branch that could hold the beast´s weight. Chris, our mammal expert struggled with it´s identity in the flashes of our torches.

The beast´s rodent like incisors and thorny body resembled creatures only spotted in pre-historic times. It retreated upwards further into the canopy. To the men´s relief the creature wedged itself in a fork - unable to move. The men´s torches focused, cameras flashed as the beast remained still. An eerie silence descended. The men comtemplated the creature´s future.

The creature had won, it was not descending any further for greater examination. The thorny body, the long python-like tail dangeled out of reach....

... A unanimous decision was reached that the men had found a large and rare Bicoloured Porcupine....

Photos will follow, but we wanted to get this little extract up before we head back to base without communications for the last few days of the expedition

Extract from Yasuni trip.....