BLOG THREE

Over the past few days Team 6 has divided up into two groups working on two different projects. One group goes with Alexine to track and trap peccaries while the other group conducts a fruit census and animal density observation. It is a pretty good bet that you will see animals whenever you go out. Today we saw a Giant Anteater and Mr. Wilford got some of it on video. We also saw a Coati which is similar to the raccoon but it is brown with a ringed tail. By the way, the injured toucan we found died yesterday. It is sad to see such a beautiful animal die.
Yesterday we girls went out with Alexine and Celsu to check the peccary traps. The traps look like big pig pens with a door that slides shut when the trap is sprung. The peccaries wander into the trap eating the corn and palm fruits we lay out. When they rut they trip a stick attached to a string that releases the door. Each trap can fit a large group of peccaries. The previous day we had set the traps and when we checked them we had caught three in one trap and six in another.
In order to record their measurements, Celsu lassos each one then Alexine anesthetizes them. We are then able to get its measurements, weight, sex, age, as well as a blood sample. Alexine checks each one with a device that tells whether or not it has a microchip in it. If not, she injects one under the skin of its neck. The microchip is used to easily identify recaptured animals. A few of the animals are fitted with radio collars which allow us to track them using radio telemetry. This way we can determine foraging patterns and migratory movements.
On the way back to the fazenda we saw an anaconda track across the sandy road. Later on, Abby and Michelle spotted our first snake!
We have also been taking long hikes in the lands surrounding the Pousada to take a fruit census and observe animal density. This includes wading in swamps up to our waists with caiman swimming by! When we spotted a mammal we would record the species, color, what it was doing and how far off the path it was using a tape measure and a GPS device. On our hikes we have seen feral pigs, marsh deer, anteaters, peccaries, capybara, and thousands of birds.
After taking some time out of the sun we continued the census, this time by horseback. We stay out around two hours or so but we usually see fewer animals when we are on horses than walking. Mr. Wilford, however, is getting quite good at spotting animals from horseback.
We are very excited to get back working with Alexine and the smelly peccaries tomorrow! Thanks for reading our blog!

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