Squirrel Monkeys of the Amazon Forests. Wilderness is where I belong.....Elsie Gabriel

Squirrel Monkeys of the Amazon Forests. Wilderness is where I belong.....Elsie Gabriel

 

 

 

Researching this Cebidae primate was over whelming. These common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) at the Rio Negro, Amazon near Manaus, Brazil; were the friendliest lot I had ever seen. May be they found something in common with me, after all.

The Amazon forest  in South America is the most fascinating store house of the worlds carbon kingdom, you could ever imagine. It is an intricate archipelago of narrow green ribbons of forest, punctuated by the Amazon river and its tributaries.If you ever hit for the South American discovery, do not leave out the Amazon forests, enjoy the earth in it smost natural state,believe me.

 

Well, let me tell you more about these little squirrel monkeys. The crown lineage of the squirrel monkeys appears to have diverged around 1.5 million years ago. Imagine!!

This new world monkey does not use its tail for climbing, although when you watch it move, you observe it kind of uses it as a tool and balancing pole of sorts to help him jump from one spot to another. Their movements in the branches can be very rapid.

They live together in groups. These little chimps kept giving out vocal calls, warning sounds to the rest of the troupes, I guess they were either protecting themselves or calling in the rest of the gang to show me off. I guess the later.

They are so tiny and hairy, but alert at all times. Their small body size also makes them susceptible to predators .Squirrel monkeys are omnivores, eating primarily fruits and insects. Occasionally they also eat seeds, leaves, flowers, buds, nuts, and eggs.

The Amazon jungle is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth and a World Natural Heritage site.  I drowned myself in its grandeur and was captivated by its wonder. It's dense forests made for excellent hiking trails, intense smells and foilage kept drawing me into the thickest depth of the jungle life I have ever experienced. I just didn’t want to leave.

Wilderness is where I belong and God am going back!! Every night before I sleep I say a prayer for the rainforests of the world, may they multiply, may they be left alone; and may they continue to provide us the essence of life-Oxygen! Reuse,Reduce,Rethink and Replenish.We belong to the forest, the forest does not belong to us?! Respect Forests…

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Amazon forest jungle..swimming with the Piranhas....Elsie Gabriel

 

Amazon forest jungle..swimming with the Piranhas....Elsie Gabriel

 

 

 

Oh to be alive!!! In the Amazon forest jungle…these boys know more about rainforests than scientists who have studied rainforests for many years! Various tribes still live much as did their ancestors hundreds of years before them. Everyday they organize their daily lives very meticulously; their food, medicines and clothing come primarily from the forest. They hunt…for food….and  I went hunting with them….fishing for Piranhas and swimming with Piranhas….outrageously adventurous..I was so over whelmed with elation,…I kept grinning like a Cheshire cat at one time and  sometimes just stood with awe and silence at the wonder of nature…….like I keep telling you after every forest trip…...I simply wanted to curl up and die……same feeling occurred in the Nepal forests, Indonesian jungles, African wild spaces, and the North eastern forests of India…….the forest is what keeps us alive, keeps us breathing…..

I wasn’t exactly the Jane in the Tarzan series in the forest, you know….but researching, documenting and simply letting the forest take over…was what  I did…..

You can reach Manaus in about 6 hours from Rio, while touring Brazil, you should not miss out on this Amazon jungle experience. In South America, Manaus is in the north, which is located on the left banks of the black water Rio Negro river and about 18 km from meeting with the waters of the claylike white water Rio Solimões, at which point both rivers join into the great Amazon river. Thicketed jungles and green forests are the gateway to the inner Amazon region and has been of significant importance for the conquest of the whole region, a fact for which, the jungle theater and the harbor among others, deliver rich testimony. Founded by the Portuguese military during the 17th century, the significant economic development of Manaus took place at the end of the 19th century, with the worldwide demand for rubber or caoutchouc, at an all time high. At that time Brazil had the monopoly for the commodity which was extracted from the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree.

Gosh there are Rubber trees every where in plenty, thats where all the trade must have started and broken the forest peace.I guess.

If I must share, Manaus is a Brazilain city of about 2.5 million, but the actual Amazoan jungle is through the river boat rides way inside the jungles.  Actually Manaus is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River proper. The two rivers flow side by side for many miles, different in color, mixing in eddies: the "Meeting of the Waters." Legend has it that they never mix. You get to see all of this during your cruise.

Our expeditions to the inside and deeper Amazonian environment started with various river trails. The miracles of the Amazonian forest and river systems came alive. I was in awe, nirvana and a state of quietness all in one, one of the last great natural environments of the planet and cradle of the species is here. So if you ever ask me ..have I been to heaven , Id say YES to heaven and back.

Trekking through deep virgin rain forest, canoeing through lonesome Igarapes, fishing Piranha or Peacock Bass, watching dolphins, birds, monkeys, alligators, snakes and spiders.Be ready to walk and be ready to rough it out.Not a place for delicate darlings mind you... 

The schedule of the excursions is depending on the weather condition, changes can be made according to your wishes. Learn how to identify trees that produce fruits and nuts you can eat -- like açai palm berries, passion fruit and Brazilian nuts -- as well as vegetation to avoid. Spot medicinal leaves and roots; learn how to find sources of clean water; and practice building traps for small animals. Afterward, enjoy lunch and take a scenic canoe ride before discovering local village life with a visit to a real Amazonian home.

Boat transportation is available in yacht with air-conditioned cabin, regional boat or motorized canoe.Included in the packages are all transfers, lunch, mineral water, bilingual guide and insurance. So choose wisely, cover as much as you can, enrich yourself, you may never come back here, so don’t cringe at the price, remember you are helping promote an ecological site.

All my cow boy and red Indian stories came alive right here!! I got to live inside the geography book pages.Biss!