Scott Hecker
Director of Bird Conservation at ICFC
“At the village’s edge, the cacao plantation gradually gives way to the dense forest. Narrow trails wind into the wilderness, but venturing beyond them without a Kayapo guide is perilous. Straying off the path could have serious consequences. Accompanied by Kayapo leaders, we embarked on at least six hikes, each spanning several kilometers.”
“You find yourself in the heart of a vast, unbroken forest, stretching for hundreds of miles—an area as large as Virginia or Ireland. Day and night, the only sounds you hear are those of the Kayapo people and their pets: roosters, macaws, and dogs. The forest is alive with the calls of macaws and countless other birds throughout the day, and as evening falls, the chorus grows louder, dominated by the cries of howler monkeys.”
Muddy spots indicate an abundance of mammals and birds. There are always many butterflies flitting about, including a large variety of Blue Morpho and the Caligo (Owl Butterfly). Plant diversity is endless. You hear a lot of other birds, frogs, and insects, but rarely get a glimpse in the dense forest. Being in unbroken forest of this magnitude give one pause to ponder how much of earth has “passed away” in the past few hundred years. How much will remain a hundred years from now?
“There was a remarkable assemblage of talented, cheerful, dedicated individuals. Kudos to the selection of this group of experienced biologists, sociologists, photographers, tourism experts, and more. They not only made the experience rich for each other but offered a lot for the Kayapo participants.”
