Monkey River and Laughingbird Caye , 2/11/2022, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Belize & Guatemala
We woke up early this morning to venture upstream on the Monkey River. Our early morning start gave us an opportunity to view wildlife during the most active time of day, just after dawn. Starting in Monkey River Town, we picked up our guides who expertly navigated the shallow river while pointing out shore dwelling birds and iguanas. Farther upriver, we heard what sounded like dinosaurs in the trees. We slowed our motors and viewed a whole troop of howler monkeys feeding. Male howler monkeys have an enlarged hyoid bone in their throat that amplifies their voice, making each “howl” identifiable for miles around.
After our jungle cruise, we repositioned the boat to Laughingbird Caye, a national park and World Heritage Site. We spent the afternoon lounging and snorkeling. Calm seas allowed for impressive views of the corals and shoaling fish. Some snorkelers even spotted nurse sharks and barracudas in the shallows. Just another day in paradise here in Belize!
Katie Mo started her career as a naturalist on Catalina Island where she taught marine science outdoor education and SCUBA diving. Her passion for conservation biology then led her to pursue a Masters degree in marine science at Western Washington Un...
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We enjoyed a full-on beach bonanza for our last full day in Belize today. In the morning, we headed over to Ranguana Caye, a private island decked out in palm trees, frigatebirds, and hammocks. We spent our time kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and snorkeling around this small island. Some folks just kicked off their shoes and relaxed on this little slice of paradise. In the afternoon, we repositioned to Silk Caye. Local guides took us out in boats to see the fishing fleet of Belize. Workers in the fleet live on small sailboats for weeks, and they free dive for lobster, conch, and other local seafood. We jumped into the water and were treated to sightings of eagle rays, nurse sharks, and turtles! Afterwards, we all enjoyed one last cocktail on the beach and headed back to our shipboard home for the evening. Another day in paradise here in Belize.
We spent the morning cruising Monkey River with our local guides. We enjoyed the scenery and observed many species of the birds that inhabit this area. As we neared a tree, our guide spotted what initially looked like dark lichens on the tree’s underside. In fact, we were looking at greater sac-winged bats! The most common bats in the rainforest, these bats often roost on large trees. They are insectivores and use echolocation calls through the mouth to track their prey, which includes flies, mosquitos, butterflies, and moths. The term "sac-winged" refers to small pouches on the bats’ wings. These sacs are used by males to attract females and to mark their harem territory. During daily grooming, males fill these sacs with drops of urine and glandular secretions. While displaying, the male hovers in front of a female and fans her vigorously to expose her to the scent of the mixture in the wing sacs. Males shake the contents of the sac to warn off intruders from the harem territory. Microbial fermentation in the sac may produce identifiable scent signals. As we came around a bend in the river, we saw a beautiful tree. This was the Ceiba tree (Ceiba pentandra), also known as the cotton tree. This particular variety has spiny thorns that protrude through the trunk. Here in Belize, the Ceiba had great symbolic importance to the ancient Mayans. In the Mayan language, its name is Yax Che, which means “Green Tree” or “First Tree.” The Ceiba was the most sacred tree for ancient Mayans, and it was the symbol of the universe in Mayan mythology. The tree signified a route of communication between the three levels of the Earth. Its roots were said to reach down into the underworld, its trunk represented the middle world where humans live, and its canopy of branches arched high in the sky, symbolizing the upper world and the thirteen levels of the Mayan heaven. The bark of the Ceiba has been used as a diuretic, an aphrodisiac, and to treat headaches and type II diabetes. The root is part of preparations to treat leprosy. The seeds and the oil contain cyclopropenoid fatty acids, such as malvalic acid and sterculic acid, which cause abnormal physiological reactions in animals and people. It is used as a hallucinogenic drink.
We began our explorations in Belize this morning. After a delicious breakfast, one of the rangers from Payne Creek National Park visited to explain a little bit of the history of this important national park. Payne Creek has an extensive mangrove estuary that has built up over time, and it protects the coastline of this part of Belize. Evidence of a Mayan presence has been discovered in the area. The Mayan people inhabited this part of Belize some 1,200 years ago; they practiced fishing and the extraction and distribution of salt. Stone structures and pottery preserve well over time. It is interesting to note that the sea level and lack of oxygen in the ground have helped preserve wooden artifacts in this area, such as a paddleboard. The protection of the endangered yellow-headed parrots is important here. In the afternoon, we had a lot of fun snorkeling in the warm, rich waters of West Snake Caye.
