Entering the Domains of Oxossi

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.Concentration and Faith
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Religion, environmental education and conservation come together at the Japi Mountains, where we are carrying out a research work for our postgrad course in Science Journalism. We chose a subject that is very interesting for being controversial, apparently full of doubts and prejudice: the offerings left in the woods by followers of the Afro-Brazilian Umbanda in natural areas (forests, rivers and waterfalls).

The Rhythm of the Forest
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Last week, during two days we joined a local Umbanda group to gather information, images and testimonials. Within some weeks our task shall be accomplished, and the results will be posted here at FotogramaBits. Don’t miss it!

Devotion
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007
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Teaming with Wildlife

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.Researcher from the Hyacinth Macaw Project
analyses a 40-day old chick.
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

I saw a Giant Anteater – I mean, three. And saw Giant Otters. And Howler Monkeys. Besides Yellow Armadillos, Crab-eating Foxes, South American Coatis, White-lipped and Collared Peccaries, Capuchin Monkeys, Agoutis, several deer, Capybaras, Tapirs, Brazilian Rabbits, fruit bats, Southern Tamandua… And it wasn’t in a zoo, but in Brazil’s best region to watch wild animals in their habitat.

I spent the last few days in the Pantanal with guests who are renowned for their international work in environmental conservation organizations. Just like nearly every visitor who comes to the region, they were fascinated by the diversity of fauna that we found. In less than three days, without doing any particular efforts, we say 18 species of mammals, over 100 species of birds and several hundred caimans. On a stopover in Bonito, we completed our list with the astonishing fishes of Rio da Prata.

The sun struggles to shine amidst the dense smoke
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Everything great, if it wasn’t for the fires… Been there before, but a long time had gone since I last saw such situation. The sun rises and sets resembling a weak fireball, hidden by a smoke curtain. Well, it ALMOST rises and sets, since it actually vanishes behind the haze of roasted biodiversity. It’s too bad to wake up in the middle of the night with the awful smell of smoke inside your bedroom!

But I’d like to finish up this post with an optimistic message, highlighting the great experience of visiting the headquarters of two conservation projects based at Caiman Ecological Refuge: The Hyacinth Macaw Project, in charge of researching the world’s largest parrot, and the Jaguar Conservation Fund, which studies our fauna’s most fascinating critter!

A family of White-lipped Peccaries searches
for the last remaining waterholes.
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2007
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