As a Cocama Indian
of the Amazon Jungle it is a daily occurrence to see pink dolphins
swimming in the river. It is rare to see a man who has white skin.
It is common to feel humidity and extreme heat. It is rare to
feel true cold. It is common to inhale the freshest and purest
air on the earth, while rare, to see air pollution. Common to
smell the sweetest aromatic flowers, that fill the air with perfumes
many buy at department stores. Rare to smell a fast food restaurant.
Common to encounter a threatening tarantula, rare to encounter a threatening
human. It is common to catch your food, not order it. It
is daily life to enjoy the songs of the jungle not of the radio.
A native has a pet monkey, not a dog. Common to travel
in a wooden compact boat, for twenty four hours to the next village,
sitting inches off the water and away from fish that could eat a man
in less than ten minutes.
The small Pueblo of San Martin de Tipishca
is located in the Pacaya Samiria National reserve. This is the
second largest national reserve in Peru. The Cocamas Indians are
the only people who may live in the reserve. Their village has
520 people, 200 are children.
Sunset on the reserve. Pink
dolphins played around us.
A Village, westward on the Amazon into
the reserve zone. Because boat trips are long, village inhabitants
have learned that cold drinks and food are in high demand and sell to
boats as they stop.
This Renaco tree is enormous
and is over 200 feet in circumference. The open range
of summer. As winter season approaches the water level rises touching
the trees
Large Piranhas for Lunch, a delicious
entree.
This crocodile stretched three and
a half feet and was a special catch.
Sunset on the Pacaya Samiria reserve.
The reserve stretches, two-million-eight-hundred and eighty hectacres
from the river Maranon and the Ucayali, a short distance from the Amazon
river. This area is home to an estimated 449 species of birds,
102 species of mammals, 69 species of reptiles, 58 species of anfibians,
256 species of fish and 1024 different species of wild and cultivated
plants.
(Top) The natives getting some
work done on their huts. (Bottom) The chief of the San Marin
de Tipishca, Manuel Ahuari Yuyarima, describing five of the natural
medicines of the jungle. From left to right: 1.
Cumaceba, made from the Yakapu tree, dranken to give one very strong
energy. 2. Sanango, made from a plant, dranken for
good luck. 3. Chuchuwasi, made from the Tatarumi
and Yakaporona trees, good for your blood and to keep one warm. 4. Abota, made from the Leanna tree, dranken to clean out
the bad spirits. 5. Mirapura Natural Honey, dranken
for energy and fertility.
A biologist digs a whole 15 to 20 cm deep and places all the eggs from
one mother turtle into the whole.
Yuyarima is also the founder of a group
called Asiendas. This group is dedicated to the preservation of
jungle life. The group from San Martin de Tipishca has many objectives
surrounding the preservation of their environment and of Asiendas.
These things include but are not limited to: conservation, reforestation
and ecotourism. One such project is with the Taricaya Turtles.
A project that has just recently started, Asiendas travel into the jungle
to gather their eggs and re-plant them in a contained environment to
increase their chances for continued reproduction. The population
of the Taricaya turtles has been diminished greatly by people who sell
their eggs in the city. Of the 4, 616 eggs they plant yearly,
approximately 85% will hatch. The incubation process is 70 days,
start to finish. Asiendas builds a sand box, contained area to
protect the eggs from both predators and greedy people.
Storms move through this area rapidly
and sometimes violently, but they always leave a plentiful reward.
Feature
written by Phillips, Blume and Tello, September 2001, who visited the
Cocama Indians. All specific research regarding the Paca Samaria
reserve zone provided by Blume who is a practicing biologist from University
of California Berkley. Information given to us regarding the explanation
of trees and functions that they may do, was provided by Manuel Ahuari
Yuyarima, Chief of the San Marin de Tipishca village, and has not been
scientifically proven. The collection and preservation of turtle
eggs is done in cooperation with government officials from the reserve
zone as well as the Cocama Indians in an attempt to prevent sale of
the eggs to the city.
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NOTES AND DIRECTIONS:
Their are limits
placed on how many visitors can enter the reserve zone a year
and spots fill up quickly. Trips vary from five to eight
days and can be customized to fit any persons needs. Understand,
that this adventure may not be suitable for everyone because of
the long time spent in boats and other extreme circumstances.
There are several ways to arrange this adventure. You can
call email the Cocama chief directly or use the Iquitos Chamber
of Commerce to help better direct you: Napo 226 Plaza de
Armas Iquitos, Peru Phone: (94) 235-621 Email: turismo.mpm@tvs.com.pe
Manuel
Ahuari Yuyarima Oficina de Iquito Distrito Punchana Calle Piura
1072 Iquitos, Peru Telephone: (094) 251-185 email: sanmartinpe@yahoo.com
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