From the Field

13 Dec 2001

Happy Birthday Lance!!! We celebrated this special day with a river trip to one of many small tributaries in the Madre de Dios. Lance wanted to go tropical fish hunting and Roberto knew of a shallow quabrada near one of his favorite hunting spots that had lots of little sardinas.

The river, for mid Dec., was very low. The rainy season is just beginning. Although the river was "dry", so to speak, we knew from experience that rivers such as these can change dramatically and without notice. We planned to be on the river for at least two nights and we went prepared.

Time to cook dinner. We located our camp beach just in time before night fall. Fixing food in the canoe is always a challenge, especially in the dark. Sleeping inside the canoe affords some sense of security in the event the river raises during the night. We want to get an early start in the morning.

Up early and on the trail…..what trail? Did someone see a trail? Here are some reasons why we love the jungle. So many things to do, so many things to see, so few trails!

Insect swarms! What fun this is.

Medicinal plants (plant on right is a cure for snake bites)

Flowers and sloths.

Did we say sloth? (left) If you look very close you will see a three toed sloth. Natives say that young men should not look at a sloth if they have a girlfriend or wife. If the young man finds a sloth he should go away from it and not look. To see a sloth means a “new woman” will come into his life. Good or Bad?

Finding a hidden lake is thrilling and usually gives us something special to film. We must have been good because this lake gave us giant river otters. Four of them. If that wasn’t just good enough, Roberto gave us more when he called the otters in close using his own vocalization of giant otter language. Roberto sits calling the giant otters who come from across the large lake. Belinda tries to film the otters and Roberto while he’s calling them in.
What a choice to make!

Belinda watches as the otters return across the lake. Lance was busy trying to catch tropical fish when the otters came up and surprised Lance with his hands full of fishnet…….empty! Must be all those piranha in the lake.

Fish Masters Lance catching tetras ............. Notice blood on hand? That is not fish blood!
No. 1 Piranha fishing rule: Keep your fingers out of mouth ... the piranhas mouth! Roberto and son, Roque caught a mess.



Giant otter den. We found the den when we noticed the smooth area or “mud slide” on the shore of the lake. Upon closer look we found bits of fish bone, evidence the otter haul fish out here to eat.

Those otters sure were right. Look at the fish we hauled out to eat! Dinner won’t be spaghetti tonight.