Back to Iquitos and the Long trip Home

We approached the dock of Iquitos, with a strange feeling of having returned from another world where time had stopped.  Suddenly, there was the sound of  traffic and people.  I could feel the need to know when our plane was due to leave.  Are we in time for our connections to Lima ?
All the problems of being in the modern world were returning and I was not entirely sure that I was ready to leave the peaceful existence of our jungle lodge for TV, newspapers and telephones, ....but maybe,  for a hot bath.
We thought that Gilberto had shown us everything about his work in the Amazon but he still had a few surprises.    We left the lodge office and went to his home. There we met his family and a collection of monkeys which he was preparing to take to his monkey island.

                                                                                        The Dock at Iquitos and dry land again

Gilberto's helpers, had gone to the local market and bought all the monkeys that they could with his money, earned at the lodge.  These monkeys were due to be exported if they had not been rescued. 

                       We have elected this little fellow,
                              Above
           " Poster Monkey of the Year"

These marmoset monkeys were in holding cages so Gilberto could see if they were healthy enough to join the other monkeys on the island.  The so called,......
"Poster Monkey"  could see the reflection of himself in the camera lens and probably thought it was one of his brothers looking at him.  I would not take a little fellow like this home with me even if I could.  They are so much better off in their own environment.  The monkey on the right may remind some the viewers of the TV series, Sesame Street®,  of a character named,                                                            .... Oscar the Grouch .... 
                                                                       But this little fellow does not live in a garbage can.

You would be mad too,  if they cut down your tree,  took you away from your mother and put you in a cage,  far from your jungle home and your favorite foods !

From information published recently, the illegal export of endangered species is now second only in monetary value to that of the drug trade, averaging over one billion dollars a year.

Getting out of Iquitos is an adventure in itself.  On arrival at the airport,  we were informed that although the plane was on time,  it would be at least Three hours late............... 

Gilberto was prepared, as this is a normal occurrence.  Expecting a delay, he had brought a bag of bread and treats with him for our next stop, the Iquitos zoo.
At the zoo,  he was welcomed by the caretakers as though he was one of them. We continued past the signs saying, "Don't Feed the Animals", with Gilberto throwing food in all directions to a very appreciative audience.

I would venture to say that from his welcome by the care-takers they all knew, full-well, the good work he is doing with the monkeys.

Mural on the wall of the Iquitos Airport              
                                                  Below is a side trip to the zoo

Iquitos Zoo

Work is being done on the zoo at the present time.  The government is trying to improve the facilities to make the areas more like a natural setting.  We met and talked with one of the staff who had come  all the way from Australia and was working on the sea-otter facilities. There were many more species of animals in the zoo, but our time is growing short and we have to say goodbye to Iquitos and the Amazon.

Picture gallery
In the Upper Left,  is one of the group of sea-otters.  Upper Right,  is a very old, two hundred pound Tortoise.   Middle Left,  is a Vulture.  Middle Right,  is a mean looking member of the Wolverine family.  Lower Left,   is a Taper,  and Lower Right,  is one of the spider monkeys.  The pregnant monkey is retrieving food which had been thrown to her by Gilberto.  They have their own little island at the zoo surrounded by a water moat.

  
Most of the animals we saw,  are no longer found on tourist trips into the backcountry.  Many cities of the world have their version of "Wildlife",  but animals running free is the best form of wildlife I can imagine. The opportunity to see animals in their natural state is going to be a luxury that few people will ever enjoy.

Departure from Iquitos:  We return to the airport........
Getting around in Peru is a lot faster if you can fly.  The roads we traveled on are not all that bad but the distances between places we wanted to see are very great.  The airplane becomes your taxi and you had better get lessons in reading arrival and departure schedules on the airport walls.  Not that the schedules mean anything,  but it may give you some idea of what day the flight is leaving.  As Gilberto said his last goodbye to us, he announced that, 
" Your flight is leaving at 5:00 P.M. at gate             Number 3, ... For Now,"

The next stop on our tour of Peru,  takes us back to Lima and then on to Cusco the Capitol of the Inca Empire.