The challenges of tracking in the wind
As the wind increases and the trees move, howler monkeys shelter in palm trees, catching up on sleep - a challenge for the tracking team…
Alisha and Delmar are back from the field, where the howler monkey census continues. They have now identified 11 troops, and over 60 individual monkeys...they have taken photographs, GPS points, observed troop dynamics...and are starting to recognize individuals. Then there are the surprises, like the arrival of a mother with her tiny newborn. Each trip brings a new experience. Alisha is continuing her blog as she encounters new challenges…
As a novice monkey tracker I rely mainly on the sound of breaking branches from howlers moving in the trees, the sound of fruit dropping to the ground or the munching of leaves to find and follow the howler monkeys. Unfortunately this week I have learnt that all of these techniques have proven to be completely useless in strong, loud winds. Not to mention that spotting a sleeping monkey in a tree (which I am already not very good at) is even trickier, with the added bonus of monkeys taking shelter from the wind in palms.
As a result of the wind, this weeks weather has been the most difficult so far for tracking howler monkeys. We have lost (and eventually found) troops more often than I would have liked and there were a few times when for a brief moment I felt like giving up. In these moments I had to remind myself that this task isn’t meant to be easy and pushing through and staying positive always seems to do the trick. And I tell you what - I think finding a monkey after losing it is even more exciting than finding it in the first place.
This week made me realise that I still have a lot to learn as a tracker, but it taught me a lot and has hopefully made me a better traacker in the future. I have gained much more appreciation for the calmer days, and I am maybe a little more aware that we still have a lot of windier and wetter days to come. I look forward to seeing what they will teach me!