Asa Wright Nature Center, Trinidad - Part 2
Leave Cutting Ants
With that gruesome story ringing in our ears, we made our way back to Arima for lunch. Luckily, it didn’t put us off our chicken legs, fish, salad and rice, followed by cake and custard washed down with estate-grown coffee!
Continuing from PART 1.............................
We spent the hour before our tour admiring these views, as well as the paintings and photographs on the walls of the reception rooms, many of which depicted the endlessly fascinating hummingbirds for which Trinidad is rightly renowned. There were other photos showing visits by world figures, including members of the British royal family. Even though we are not twitchers, we were mesmerized by the array of birds attracted to the feeders on the verandha and tried in vain to capture them on film.
Caleb, our guide, arrived promptly and gave us a brief introduction to the centre before leading us on our 90-minute walk through the rain-forest. His commentary was interesting and entertaining. He explained to us all about the hummingbirds and other bird species we were seeing, as well as countless insects and plants. Even though we live in Trinidad, this was my first time here and I was completed flabbergasted by how much i didnt know about our magnificent island.
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| White-Chested Emerald Hummingbird |
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| Male Purple Honeycreeper |
The leaf cutter ants were amazing! (in Trinidad we call them 'bachack' ).Who knew that such tiny creatures could build such large structures (u to six metres across and several metres deep) and live such long lives (up to 25 years)? (need to research this more)
We were lucky to see the White Bearded Manakin, but the Bearded Bellbird, whose image appears on the centre’s logo, remained elusive. We heard its loud and distinctive call, but didn’t see it.
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| Female Purple Honeycreeper! |
We were interested to learn that many of the trees that proliferate in the rainforest are not native to the Caribbean. The citrus trees, for example, were planted by the British in order to provide fruit for sailors to prevent them developing scurvy on the long voyage home. Mangoes, of which there are now 100 varieties growing in Trinidad, were introduced by Indian immigrants who wanted a taste of home.
We also saw giant bamboo – taller than any I’ve ever seen! In the forest....Caleb explained that it’s the largest and fastest growing plant on earth. It will grow through anything – stone wood, even human flesh! In World War Two, the Japanese would torture POWs by tying them to bent bamboo and leaving them there. It wouldn’t be long before the bamboo started growing into their bodies!
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| Large Bamboo |
Below Are Some More Pics From This Epic Journey!
Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad- Part 2
Reviewed by Frugal Farming in T&T
on
April 10, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Frugal Farming in T&T
on
April 10, 2018
Rating:
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