Our first morning at the lodge, five from our group got up early in order to take in the canopy zip line.
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| Debby, Anthony, Donna, Shannon, and Justin |
After a short hike we made it to the first platform for the zip line.
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| Getting geared up. |
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| Excited to get going! |
We were told that there were only two ways to get to the top of the first platform (which was 100 feet up in the canopy). Either they could pull us up or we could go up the rope ourselves.
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| Anthony going up. |
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| I decided to climb! |
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| ...and climb... |
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| ...almost there! |
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| By the time I reached the top I was tired... |
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| ...but I did it! |
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| Justin ascending the rope. |
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| At the top of the canopy, enjoying the view. |
We had a quick breakfast at the top of the canopy before heading across the zip line.
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| The second platform. |
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| Looking down. |
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| Debby swinging through the trees. |
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| Donna |
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| Looking back at the first platform. |
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| Christian, our wonderful guide from the lodge. |
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| Anthony |
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| Shannon |
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| Debby heading back down. |
After wrapping up the zip line, it was time to head to our first mobile clinic at the village of el Chino.
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| Anthony, Dr. B, Donna, Debby, and Justin the morning of our first day of work. |
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| el Chino |
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| Our first obstacle was getting all of our supplies up these stairs. |
We quickly set up in a pavilion in the center of the village.
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| Harri and Dr. Betty |
During every mobile clinic we offered free spays and neuters for the dog and cat population, free parasite control for both pets and humans, free physical exams on pets, and school children were educated about the humane treatment of animals.
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| Checking in our first patients. |
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| Dr. Luis performing a feline spay approaching from the flank (side) rather than the ventral midline (belly) that is typical in the States. |
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| Donna recovering our first patient. |
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| Placing an IV catheter. |
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| Recovering a kitty after surgery. |
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| Dr. B's first surgery was performed on a flat table, the norm for mobile clinics... |
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| ...but we quickly made some adjustments to make things more like home. |
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| Raise the table = Save your back |
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| The recovery area filled up quickly. |
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| Every animal we spayed or neutered received a tattoo on their right ear. |
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| Waking up after surgery. |
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| Across the river a sloth watched us for a good portion of the day. |
After working hard all morning, we sat down for lunch.
Then the women from the village brought out various hand-made items that were for sale.
When we were all finished packing up, Donna and Debby handed out whistles to all the kids of the village...and a few adults.
When we arrived back at the lodge we cleaned everything for the next day.
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| Cleaning surgery instruments and drapes with water straight from the river. |
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| Wrapping surgery packs. |
After dinner we all headed out on a night hike to try and spot some creepy-crawlies.
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| Centipedes |
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| Tarantula |
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| Leaf Cutter Ants |
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| Termite nest |
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| Millipede |
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| Scorpion Spider |
Even though we were hiking through the rainforest, none of us thought to bring rain jackets. Thanks to Murphy's Law it didn't just rain, it POURED!
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| Needless to say, we were all soaked. |
