Today we were picked up from our host family, and brought back to EARTH Universtity where we picked up the rest of our luggage. 1 ½ hours later, we arrived at the Selva Verde lodge, in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. It was a bit sad to leave Elias and his family, as they had been so wonderful to us, but I was excited to begin the next part of my adventure.
Finally, we spent some time in the jungle that I had been imagining for so long on this trip. Today I saw monkeys, snakes, frogs, lizards, caimen , hundreds of insects, exotic birds and bats all in about 12 hours! The biodiversity of this place is staggering, and I am just amazed at the amout of species even in this reserve, which accounts for only about 900 hectacres.
The lodge itself is right in the middle of the preserve, and we can walk just a few feet and feel like we are in the middle of the jungle! Last night we went on a night hike with our guides, and were able to encounter all sorts of different animals, a LOT of which I was then able to cross of my lists that the students had prepared for me! Red-eyed leaf frog? CHECK! Pictures are below!
The next morning we were off to the Trimbina Ecological Preserve where we were treated to everything from walking across an 800 ft suspension bridge over a raging river, to seeing how chocolate is made an harvested from the Cocoa tree! Amazing stuff! Pictures are below to help me try to describe the wonders we saw here today.
Finally, we got up close and personal with one of the most important species of mammal is the entire world: bats. We got to see them up close (with the help of the local conservationists who captured a few), and learned how essential bats are to an ecosystems. Of all the mammals in the WORLD, bats make up…what percent? Can you guess? I will tell you tomorrow!!!
This is an anole lizard.
Tree iguana! He was massive!
This suspension bridge we crossed is over 800 ft. - one of the longest in Costa Rica!
Another white-faced monkey.
Look at how this vine twists!
The Costa Rican Caimen!!!!
Poison Dart frog - my students: find out which one it is!
Ahh. Check another one off the list! Not a great picture, but this is the red-eyed leaf (or tree) frog!
Guess what this plant is? The beans inside that fruit are used to make something we all love VERY much...
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