IE Blog
Wildlife Watch: Galapagos Fur Seals
The Galapagos fur seal is the smallest fur seal, with six other fur seals in other areas of the world being larger. The scientific name, Arctocephalus, translates to “bear head” as its face and head are small with fairly large ears and a very pointed snout. The Galapagos fur seal has very large eyes which aid in their foraging strategies of being nocturnal. Through long term studies, it appears that fur seals prefer small moon phases for feeding at sea and during full or big moon nights, the fur seals remain ashore. This may be a self-preservation tactic. It keeps the fur sela from being preyed upon by sharks or other ocean predators on the bright nights of the full moon.
During the 1800’s, many thousands of fur seals were killed for their pelts and the Galapagos fur seal nearly became extinct. Today, their numbers have rebounded and some authorities believe there are almost equal numbers of fur seals as there are sea lions. The Galapagos fur seal is not observed as frequently as sea lions on Galapagos Islands cruises though, as the fur seal prefers the colder waters of the up-welling zone in the western part of the islands. These are areas outside of the typical tourism routes; however fur seals are often observed on Genovesa and at James Bay on Santiago Island. They also prefer rocky areas where they climb extremely well and where they can escape the ravages of the heat from the sun. Fur seals have an amazingly think fur which allows many of the fur seal species to survive in frigid, almost freezing water temperatures.
Male fur seals are sexually mature at about nine years of age and usually are able to hold a territory for about three years. Females become sexually receptive only a few days post-partum. Fur seal pups have the longest suckling or nursing time of any of the world’s pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). Unfortunately, due to this, if a pup is born while an older pup may still be occasionally suckling, the young fur seal most often dies of starvation. Typically a female fur seal is only able to give birth once every two years, so reproductive rate is fairly slow. Snorkeling with fur seals is a real treat on your Galapagos cruise. Their large front flippers allow them to be extremely maneuverable, and they are amazingly speedy in the watery realm.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
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Guest Video: Peruvian Hokey Pokey!
One of the unexpected highlights of International Expeditions' Amazon River cruises is always the village visits! This video from our friends at Green Global Travel documents a morning spent in the tiny village of Nueva York. Since IE has been visiting the Peruvian Amazon for more than 33 years and many of our naturalists and crew are from these same villages, our guests are greeted like family stopping in from across the river when we enter a Ribereno village. And, as you can see if the video, guests are eagerly welcomed into homes, schools and the daily lives of those who live life perched on the riverboanks during our Amazon tour. But you may not realize that IE varies the villages where we stop. This ensures an authentic experience!
According to Bret Love of GGT, "Our favorite part of the Nueva York visit involved us going to the village’s tiny schoolhouse, where our guide Johnny Balarezo Malatesta presented the school with some supplies brought by IE passengers. After teaching us some Spanish words and the kids some English words, we had a fun cultural exchange in which we sang 'Cómo Estás” with them, and they sang and danced “The Hokey Pokey” with us. It was pretty hysterical to see their looks on their faces as they watched us grown-ups dancing and grinning like overgrown kids.
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You already know that International Expeditions’ Amazon River cruises are a great way to connect with nature, but the experts at Travel + Leisure say it is also a prime spot to get over being “suddenly single.”
According to the story on TravelandLeisure.com, “Travelers know that a change of environment helps clear your head and rejuvenate your spirit, and for the newly single, there's the added benefit of putting some physical space between you and your ex. Instead of rehashing what went wrong or revisiting the same old haunts, why not start calculating your award miles and plot a getaway.” Be sure to read the story in Travel + Leisure.
Do you have a favorite post-relationship getaway? Let us know in the comments.
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Beware of the Boto?
The enigmatic pink river dolphin, aka Boto, of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers is an aquatic creature that many guests to the region can’t wait to observe. Most guests on IE’s Amazon River cruises do not come away disappointed as these lovely creatures are fairly abundant in many areas of the Peruvian Amazon.
The Amazon pink dolphin is the world’s largest fresh water dolphin, and large females may reach over eight feet in length. Males tend to be a little smaller, typically reaching about six to seven feet in length. The color of pink dolphins is highly variable, but young dolphins are usually gray — as are some adults — but many adults attain a gorgeous pink coloration, hence their name, pink river dolphin. To see a bubble-gum pink dolphin as it surfaces in the black waters of Pacaya or Samiria Rivers is one of the greatest pleasures in the natural world. In the black water systems, one can easily view all of the characteristics of this unique animal.
Unlike marine dolphins, the Boto only has a hump on its back (no dorsal fin). It also has a very long beak with many teeth that permits the dolphin to pursue fish and crabs from submerged tree snags. During low water, the pink dolphin is often observed at the mouths of tributaries that empty into the Amazon River. Here they use sonar to locate prey as it is brought downstream by ebbing water. During high water, as the water rises into the lowland forest, which is then called — you guessed it — the flooded forest, the pink dolphins swim into the forest in search of prey. It is during this time when another marvelous adaptation can be observed; the dolphin can swim and turn sharply around trees. Pink river dolphins have a flexible neck that allows the dolphin to turn its head 180 degrees from the line of the body. This flexibility is an amazing feat for a dolphin and serves the dolphin well when swimming within the flooded realm of the lowland rainforest.
Of importance to the local people are some of the legends that persist today about the pink dolphin. Along the river, many of the Ribereňos people believe that the Boto can transform itself into a man. Whenever a young girl or unmarried woman gets pregnant, it is claimed that the Boto left the river disguised as a man, impregnated the woman then returned to the river once again as a Boto. Who am I to dispute legend, but I certainly have my doubts...don’t you?
I hope that all guests who travel to Amazon have the same opportunities that I have had in observing the incredible pink dolphins. Observing them is often one of the many highlights that standout in guests memories upon returning home.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
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A Warthog Only a Mother Could Love!
Warthogs are certainly one of Africa’s most bizarre creatures. At first glance, the warthog looks somewhat like a pig of “some sort.” However, when viewed closely or through binoculars, they are actually much stranger than just a type of pig.
The warthog is grayish or sometimes brownish in color, with little hair on the body but a mane of long very course hair on the shoulders and back, white hair tufts on the cheeks and a tuft of dark hair on the tip of the tail. Whenever a warthog is alarmed (running) the tail is held erect and the tuft of hair on the tail tip is like a flag. The head is really large with two big knobs (warts) that stick out of the head just below and behind the eyes. There are two other knobs on the cheeks and the boars have two big tusks that curve upward and inward. Warthogs groups are known as “sounders” with numerous females and their young.
A boar will accompany a sounder of females if a sow is in estrus. Warthogs dig burrows, where they can escape the heat of the day and avoid their most prevalent predator, the lion. One behavioral characteristic of the warthog, in regards to feeding, is that they drop onto their knees (front legs only) so their rump is high in the air and their mouth is at ground level. Then they use their snout to dig for roots and graze on grass. Warthogs are abundant over much of Africa and commonly observed during IE’s Kenya & Tanzania safaris in areas where lakes and or water holes are present. They greatly enjoy a good mud wallow.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
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Guest Haiku: Cuba's Cattle Egrets
In January, Jim Smith joined IE to travel to Cuba. Jim commemorated his experience with a series of haikus, which he has graciously agreed to share. Read other entries here
symbiotic sign
small herds grazing pastures fine
cattle egrets dine
The small white cattle egrets are seen everywhere in the countryside where cattle graze in open fields. They live from the insects stirred up from the proximity of the animals as well as consuming the ticks and flies on the cattle. The egrets can often be seen awaiting their next meal while actually sitting on the backs of cows. - January 22, 2013 - Boca de Guama, Cuba
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Photo of the Day: Costa Rica's Pacific Coast
International Expeditions' staff member Emily Harley talks about her "happy place" - a small spit of white-sand beach on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, where she went on a custom Costa Rica tour
The beach is not a foreign place to my small family. Every opportunity we get, my husband, son and I head down I-65 to the Gulf of Mexico. There is not much in the way of surf, but there is sand and sun and water and a lovely sense of relaxation that keeps us coming back year after year. But this year we decided to spend our week somewhere different and our delightful Custom Travel Planner Sarah put together a special Costa Rica tour that included something for everyone. I wanted the rainforest. My husband wanted adventure. What we found was a combination of both. But for my family, there is no place as special as the photo to the right. It is our "private" happy place. As three of just a dozen guests at Hotel Capitan Suizo, we were quickly spoiled by the gracious staff while relaxing on cushy beach chairs and braving the waves of this surfing hot spot. From the private bungalow (rooms are also available), it was just steps to the beach, where loungers, a hammock, boogie boards and even ping-pong were waiting. You can see our complete itinerary here.
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Easy Earth Day Tips to Help You Go (& Save) Green!
While Earth Day may only be celebrated on April 22, everyone at International Expeditions is a firm believer in celebrating the world EVERY day. And while many people may still think that adding Earth-friendly practices into your daily life can cost both time and money, our staff compiled a list of six tips that will help our planet without costing you a dime.
- Recycle your breakfast scraps. Used coffee grounds and eggshells can be mixed into your potting soil or spread over plants for a great fertilizer.
- Turn off the car. Did you know that an hour of idling uses as much as a half-gallon of gas? Turning your car off in the car pool line, when stopped by a train or any time when you'll be idling for more than two minutes reduces pollution and saves your gas money.
- Strip it. Your coffee pot and chargers leech energy all day. So plug small appliances and cell-phone chargers into a power strip and turn it off when not in use – a great way to reduce energy usage and cost.
- Bag and save. You already know how awful plastic bags are for the environment. In fact, there is a trash island twice the size of Texas floating off the California coast that is 80% plastic! Gross. Many stores are giving you a credit for bringing your own cloth shopping bag instead of using plastic.
- Share. Instead of subscribing to a dozen magazines or buying a new beach read, share with a friend, check-out your local library or purchase the e-book version (which also saves you some cask).
- Mug-to-go: Carry a mug wherever you go for take out beverages. Local coffee shops may even offer you a small discount and – like our favorite shop around the corner – a special shelf for your mug. They keep it clean and mark the size!
What are a few of the easy things you do to help reduce waste and save money? Let us know in the comments below.
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Travel Tips: Flip-Flops on Safari
If you travel on one of IE's Kenya and Tanzania safaris during April or May, bring an extra pair of shoes for inside your tent at our mobile tented camp. Flip-flops are perfect! Shoes can get muddy in East Africa's green season and a pair of shoes for inside help keep mud out of your tent. So, you might be asking, why travel on an East Africa safari during the green season if it is muddy? Easy! During the green season, safaris are less expensive AND the parks and reserves are less crowded!
What unexpected items do you pack for safaris? Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks to IE Director of Program Development Bill Robison for this great tip!
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Amazon Tails: Green Iguana
The green iguana is one of the iconic species of the neotropical rainforest. This species has an extensive range stretching from Northern Central America southward throughout the Amazon Basin. They’ve also been introduced in South Florida, as well as the lower Rio Grande area of South Texas. Green iguanas are the largest lizard in the Amazon Basin, including the Peruvian Amazon, and large males may reach six feet in length. Females are considerably smaller, reaching about four feet in length.
Unfortunately, the green iguana has been collected over a wide range for the U.S. and European pet trade. Most baby iguanas do not survive due to very poor husbandry. The few that do survive, once reaching four, five or even six feet in length typically are not good pets as they require huge cages and tend not to be friendly. Bites from a large iguana may result in serious injury. I have a very large male that is an incredible gentle giant. This animal is used in reptile programs, and is often the star of the presentation.
Along the river bank of the Amazon and its tributaries, watch carefully in the trees and especially in the large vine mats hanging down to the water’s edge. These are favorite “hangouts” for iguanas which IE’s local naturalists are familiar with, so hopefully every Amazon cruise guest will be fortunate enough to find a big male iguana basking in the tropical sun.
What a Male!
What are most striking about iguanas are the males of the species. A huge male is an amazing creature with a very large dewlap that hangs very low from the throat. They also exhibit a long row of spines down the back from the neck to the base of the tail. The tail is long and in many individuals, banded in colors of greenish olive and brown. The body of a male iguana may be olive early in the morning before they have had time to warm up, but once warming occurs, they may become bright orange with large bluish cheeks.
Special Diet
Green iguanas are basically herbivorous, but will also eat bird’s eggs, baby birds and young rodents when they can find them. Interestingly, in captivity, it is important not to provide too much protein in the diet of an iguana as they are very prone to health problems as a result too much protein in their diet.
Another very interesting characteristic of the iguana is the presence of a parietal eye or “third eye” — a whitish diamond shape feature in the top of the head. The parietal eye is photo-sensitive and tells this lizard when to wake up, and can detect shadows, possibly warning the lizard of a predator above them, such as a hawk or eagle.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
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