In search of the Panther

So I headed back into the jungle with some friends; you might ask like my dad: Jungle? In Peru? well, yes there is a place called the Amazon...

Watching the cloud forest turn into rainforest I was contemplating what makes me so drawn to the jungle: is it the adventure, the smells and noises or just the endless possibilites of what is out there? I remember whilst studying at university in Lund I used to walk past the zoological faculty every day, and wonder why I was not there. Even biking past the zoological society of London zoo( just after the giraffes) I was always hoping to somehow be involved there. But so far, all I can do is put my safari gear on and head into the different jungles I am close to, and this time it was Manu. Apart from the wildlife in Manu what really excited me was that there are still uncontacted indigineous tribes living there. If you are really lucky( or unlucky depending on what happens next) you might run into them on the river. That is what our guide had done once, they came towards him and a tourist in their canoes stark naked. The natives are protected so you are not allowed to touch them as this can spread diseases to them, but this time the chief had paddles up to the guide, taken his hat, put it on ( whilst the tourist quickly took a pic which is now famous here) gave the hat back and then they were gone. Please click below on the link to find out how you can help protecting these tribes.

http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/isolatedperu

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1022822/Incredible-pictures-Earths-uncontacted-tribes-firing-bows-arrows.html

Cock of the rock mating.

                                                         One of the lodges we stayed in.

                                               The tranquil Oxbow lake where we
                                                travelled around in wooden canoes.

This is a legal coca farm...

Coca has been used by the Inkas for over 5000 years and is a sacred plant for them.  They chew the leaves, which are really nutritious and contains lots of protein.  Medical research has shown that the natives in Cusco who chew the Coca has very strong bones and overall aer very healthy compared to people who do not chew the Coca. Cocaine is processed by mixing the alkoids from the leaves and mixing it with lovely chemicals like acetone etc.

Just finished " The picture of Dorian Gray" again, so well written and funny and crazy.