As normal in Panama we have hit the ground running with some problems. Although now I believe we have got most of our administration things completed we are still waiting on our collection permit to arrive to get started on our work. We have been promised its not too far away.
In the mean time we have been prepping for experiments as best we can. Robin (my assistant) is now complete in his knowledge of all the experiments we will be doing and the equipment is all ready to go!
After completing a very scary wilderness first aid course last month I was told that it takes people about 2 weeks to fully acclimatise to working the the heat and humidity of the tropics. So amongst all the paper work we are completing for the Smithsonian we decided to get into acclimatisation shape by climbing up Cerro Ancon. This is a big hill and national park on the edge of Panama City.
From the top you get some great views out over the city:
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| The "old town" of Panama, a favourite spot for a few drinks, that huge ring you can see around it is a new motor way out in the sea, this wasn't here last year and a sorry sight to see if surrounding such a lovely bit of the city |
As well as over the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Pacific cost:
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| Giant cranes in action to move the shipping containers from the boats to the land at the Pacific entrance to the Panama canal |
Today we had the please of seeing snakes, eagles and tamarins. However their was one animal spot that completely made my day namely - el perezoso sue se cayó (the sloth who fell).
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| A little confused as to how he ended up on the floor! |
We stubbled across this gorgeous three-toed little fellow after the branch he was climbing on snapped and he fell to the ground.
Although looking a bit dazed and confused for quite some time we managed to get him on the path and he quickly (we as quickly as a sloth can move) started to make his way across the ground and back up to climbing a tree.
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| Back on the climb |
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| The sloth and I |
It was the closet I have even been to one of these beautiful creatures and definitely something I won't forget.
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| Robin with the sloth |
Until next time
Em x
After completing a very scary wilderness first aid course last month I was told that it takes people about 2 weeks to fully acclimatise to working the the heat and humidity of the tropics. So amongst all the paper work we are completing for the Smithsonian we decided to get into acclimatisation shape by climbing up Cerro Ancon. This is a big hill and national park on the edge of Panama City.
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