The reality of leaving in a little more than two weeks has taken hold. So now we are working down the "to do" and "places to see" lists: we spent this morning with monkeys. Nariva Swamp is the largest wetland system in Trinidad, covering over 6500 hectares (about 15,000 acres). It is a Ramsar designated site, and home to a wide range of critters including the green anaconda (growing up to25 feet, and the star of the famous "Wild Kingdom" episode in which Jim was violently thrown around the stream while wrestling the anaconda), West Indian manatee, white faced capuchin monkeys and red howler monkeys. Plus a bunch of birds, porcupines, possums, tree boas...... We were led around Bush Bush island by an aptly nicknamed ranger from the Forestry Department, "Shortman", after a quick boat ride through the mangroves and marshes. Almost immediately, we came across a "troop" of white faced capuchin monkeys out for their breakfast browse. It made getting up at the crack of dawn worth it - especially for the kids. In no time, we were trying to match the names given by research scientists to the individuals we were seeing - Ophelia, Porkchop, Big Red (the alpha male of course) - and David was trying his best to speak directly to them, in what he was sure was fluent monkey. Beautiful forest, beautiful creatures, beautiful moment. At the same time, a troop of the resident red howler monkeys came in, and so within the space of 20 yards in the jungle we could watch two species: great fun. The beautiful trees, butterflies, porcupines, tree boas, savannah hawks, ant shrikes, belted and green kingfishers, herons, blue macaws, and a visit to the "Bush Bush Hilton" were just the little extras to round out the morning.
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