What it means to be in Panama
If you are a wildlife lover like us, Panama is a fantastic place to live or visit. Everyday presents so many photographic opportunities. We live in the province of Chiriqui, which is the area on the southern Pacific Ocean side of the Continental Divide. There is a wonderful drive over to the otherside, bringing you upon the coast Caribbean Sea and the myriad of islands at the world famous Bocas del Toro. Chiriqui also borders Costa Rica, so as you can see there is so much to do and see here, if you are prepared to travel around a bit.
The view from the house is of Volcan Baru, Panama’s only volcano who is asleep for the moment. She is majestic and blue in the clear mornings. The Caldera Mountain range fills our horizons to the north and we can see the Chiriqui Lagoons not too far to the south. Fruit grows wild in the hedgerows here and such exotic flowers that cost a fortune back home in the UK.
The wildlife (apart from Plummet our Cockatoo) sometimes comes right in the house. We frequently have flashing iridescent green Hummingbirds flying through the open front door and buzzing around before they find their way out of the back. We hang fragrant Orchids in our sitting room which greet us in the mornings with their wonderful perfumes. Flocks of wild Amazon Parrots, bright green Parakeets, Toucans, fabulous Oropendulas, Robins and Wrens create our early dawn chorus.
This morning, a friend of ours, Steve, who lives on a fabulous Eco resort called Alouatta Lodge ~ www.alouattalodge.com ~ down on the jungle sides of the flat topped mountain at Chorcha, called us to say that they had just taken on ‘another’ baby Howler Monkey that had been found in a restaurant in David (the main city nearby) on Sunday night. Andrew, another friend having an Eco resort up at Lost and Found ~ www.lostandfoundlodge.com ~ lives in David and had heard about this baby Howler Monkey from other friends. Anyway, Steve went down and picked up the little fellow and we will visit on Sunday to see and play with them all. The baby is now safe and sound and playing with Maisey (a rescued and pregnant Howler female) Yahoo, a wonderful caring male that was also rescued and 2 other baby Howlers curently being hand raised by the incredibly patient Michele, Steve’s wife.
Before I go, let me quickly tell you about another exciting adventure. We released 2 Ocelot cubs back in to the wild last week. They had been looked after at a very popular Wildlife Rescue Centre in Boquete, not too far from here. We had taken them up to the pristine Cloud and Rain Forests of Fortuna where no people live for miles. We carried (as a group of volunteers) the crates containing the cats down a hazardous track through wonderful jungle, over streams and rivers, under and over fallen trees eventually coming to the clear cool river in the valley bottom. The cubs were male and female and were certainly ready for release. What a sight though…… having the crates opened by Gareth, Steve’s son whilst everyone else stood well back, quiet, watching, barely being able to breathe, and then, seeing them both cautiously, keeping very low to the ground, creep out of their crates and to slink off in to the jungle together. Awesome. My breathe still catches in my throat even now as I think and remember it. The only wild cats I would get near to back home in the UK would either be the sad zoo caged variety or the trash can ferral kind. These stunning wild animals deserve their freedom and we helped, in just a small way.
So, if you are a nature lover, a wildlife lover, and outdoors person, a plant or flower person, a photographer or artist, a fisherman, horseback rider, sailor, hiker or so many other descriptors of and for leisure / hobby activities, this truly is the place for you.
Come on down, the price is right.
Life is good and full and healthy.
See you all soon I hope.
The view from the house is of Volcan Baru, Panama’s only volcano who is asleep for the moment. She is majestic and blue in the clear mornings. The Caldera Mountain range fills our horizons to the north and we can see the Chiriqui Lagoons not too far to the south. Fruit grows wild in the hedgerows here and such exotic flowers that cost a fortune back home in the UK.
The wildlife (apart from Plummet our Cockatoo) sometimes comes right in the house. We frequently have flashing iridescent green Hummingbirds flying through the open front door and buzzing around before they find their way out of the back. We hang fragrant Orchids in our sitting room which greet us in the mornings with their wonderful perfumes. Flocks of wild Amazon Parrots, bright green Parakeets, Toucans, fabulous Oropendulas, Robins and Wrens create our early dawn chorus.
This morning, a friend of ours, Steve, who lives on a fabulous Eco resort called Alouatta Lodge ~ www.alouattalodge.com ~ down on the jungle sides of the flat topped mountain at Chorcha, called us to say that they had just taken on ‘another’ baby Howler Monkey that had been found in a restaurant in David (the main city nearby) on Sunday night. Andrew, another friend having an Eco resort up at Lost and Found ~ www.lostandfoundlodge.com ~ lives in David and had heard about this baby Howler Monkey from other friends. Anyway, Steve went down and picked up the little fellow and we will visit on Sunday to see and play with them all. The baby is now safe and sound and playing with Maisey (a rescued and pregnant Howler female) Yahoo, a wonderful caring male that was also rescued and 2 other baby Howlers curently being hand raised by the incredibly patient Michele, Steve’s wife.
Before I go, let me quickly tell you about another exciting adventure. We released 2 Ocelot cubs back in to the wild last week. They had been looked after at a very popular Wildlife Rescue Centre in Boquete, not too far from here. We had taken them up to the pristine Cloud and Rain Forests of Fortuna where no people live for miles. We carried (as a group of volunteers) the crates containing the cats down a hazardous track through wonderful jungle, over streams and rivers, under and over fallen trees eventually coming to the clear cool river in the valley bottom. The cubs were male and female and were certainly ready for release. What a sight though…… having the crates opened by Gareth, Steve’s son whilst everyone else stood well back, quiet, watching, barely being able to breathe, and then, seeing them both cautiously, keeping very low to the ground, creep out of their crates and to slink off in to the jungle together. Awesome. My breathe still catches in my throat even now as I think and remember it. The only wild cats I would get near to back home in the UK would either be the sad zoo caged variety or the trash can ferral kind. These stunning wild animals deserve their freedom and we helped, in just a small way.
So, if you are a nature lover, a wildlife lover, and outdoors person, a plant or flower person, a photographer or artist, a fisherman, horseback rider, sailor, hiker or so many other descriptors of and for leisure / hobby activities, this truly is the place for you.
Come on down, the price is right.
Life is good and full and healthy.
See you all soon I hope.
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