This morning all on board the Delfin II had the chance to visit one of the small communities along the Río Marañon, this one with the name San Francisco! People here live in harmony with the rainforest around them, and even keep many of the critters they find in the wild as household guests. They feed and care for these animals, and many return their wards back to nature after a period of time.
I did the exact same thing growing up in the Sonoran Desert where I caught and kept for a time all manner of snakes, lizards, and even toads. Locals here were happy to share their love for these animals and we of course took the opportunity for rare up-close looks at monkeys, sloths, agoutis, parrots, macaws, caimans, and even a boa constrictor!
Our afternoon was spent first by swimming in Lake Clavero as both pink and gray river dolphins surfaced all around the area. Easy to see, but very difficult to photograph as they never seem to come up when and where the camera is ready for them! A quick change out of our swimsuits and into our skiffs brought the chance to look for more wildlife along the lakeshore. Our efforts were rewarded with great views of many species of birds and even very cooperative common squirrel monkeys in the late afternoon light.
