| July
22, 2005 I still cannot get a real good picture of the manatee (that's the baby's head in the photo to the right). I had not yet told you about the manatee because we weren't sure if it would survive. It is the only animal we paid for because it was in such a bad state (70 days in a baby rubberpool, the size of the manatee) and with a butcher who was offering 20 soles per kilo.That was what finallly convinced us that we should buy the animal, against all our beliefs, but only with the intention to save it. Thanks to Guy Oliver, an oceanologist and friend, we even got the money back that we had spent to buy the animal. The manatee is still small and I'm a bit worried because we haven't been able to give him any milk; he was so shy in the beginning. And as I wanted him to have space, he's in the big pond, where you cannot easily catch him. But "Torito," as we call him, is eating waterplants and lettuce and I hope he will get big and strong.I know the pictures aren't good, so I'll keep trying.  .As
you see, we already bought the freezer (it's for 35kgs). I couldn't
get a smaller one. Normally red meat costs between $3-5 a kg in Iquitos,
depending on the quality. But yesterday we went to the place where
they kill the cattle, and we could buy 15 kgs of cowbreast, with the
ribs, for less than $2 each. So although we cannot take the freezer
out to the farm right now, it's a big help because we can buy more
meat at a lower price. Besides it freezes so well that the meat doesn't
get bad on the way to the farm . . . the highwater season has passed
and now one cannot reach Pilpintuwasi with the boat. We have to cross
the river with a boat, but from there on we have to walk about 20-30
minutes.Everybody is fine and I've got more time at the farm because the university is on strike. Bonzo is growing really well and fast, and our dear Chavo starts to mother him a bit. It's really amazing how he, who's always very jealous with his food, lets the baby monkey eat with him or even opens a fruit for him. I hope you are all well-and many thanks! Best wishes Gudrun |
Amazon Animal Orphanage
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm
www.AmazonAnimalOrphanage.org
pilpintuwasi@hotmail.com
063-23-2665
Padre Cocha
Iquitos, Peru