Fazenda Barranco Alto, December 2005
Dear friends,
This year went by just as fast as a kingfisher´s straight dive into the water to catch a fish. As the bird, we too have caught a few fishes, some smaller and others bigger... although no one achieved Jeremy´s catch of a 16 kg pintado (catfish) ! This last record gave us meat for 4 big meals, feeding more than 30 persons.
Anyhow, talking about animals and nature, 2005 was without any doubt “TheYear of theJaguar”. In 2004 we have had 9 sightings of puma and 2 of jaguars. This year we had 15 sightings of jaguars and 4 of pumas! We are happy to tell, quite sure, that there are at least 3 jaguars living around the area of the ranch. If they will stay, we can´t predict, but until now we haven´t seen any signs of people hunting these wonderful and elusive cats, as they used to do until not long ago. Since there is plenty of food for them (peccaries, capybaras and wildboars) it is possible that we can keep the jaguar population on this level, without causing big losses of cattle.This year, pumas killed 7 calves and one was killed by a jaguar. This number is of what we have found and could assure the cause of death.
But not only the cats have made us make “big eyes”. Lucas and Fernando together with some really enthusiastic birders like Simon and Edward, have spotted another 17 new bird species for the Barranco Alto list. On one occasion, we have even found a rosy-billed pochard, a duck never seen in the Pantanal before. Some gave them a hardtime to be named, especially those that were still wearing their “juvenile uniform”. Inspired by Simon´s daily backyard observations, we have started to grow a new orchard between the guesthouse and the saddle house, where 85 fruit trees have been planted with the only intend to feed wildlife...
As to the horse lovers, an old dream of ours has finally become true – we made twice a 4-day ride throughout the Barranco Alto ranch. The first group, very experienced french riders, gave us the best support to make it into a good “new product”. It opened the path to many nights sleeping in hammocks under the most magnificent star sky.
In November, we bought 15 new horses, all Southamerican crioulo bred. They shall be our next years companions on the riding treks.But don´t worry, the good old horses, like Boneca, Alazaozinho (won again the 5 barrel race), Ratinho, Noite Escura, Batatinha, Oiti etc.are still around !
Other breathtaking moments were a tapir mother with her young baby, at daylight, walking towards us up to 10 metres of distance ! A road-side hawk chasing a snake on the river bank; an ocelot who gave us the pleasure of walking around the lodge just like a house cat; a collared anteater carrying its baby on the back and climbing trees with the easiness of a monkey; a 9 headed giant fishotter family with one fish in each of the animals´ mouth and much more.
Surprising, but we found a new salt lake, named as "Mara Maravilha", with an amazing green coloured water, sourrounded by a broad white sand beach.
We shall never forget that fresh morning of the 18th of July, when we got up and all rosed ipês had flowered, just as a miracle happens,from one day to the other. That same night, as they were flowering, a yaguarundi (small feline) killed our young Jeremias, the white-lipped peccary we were raising by hand. Life all over the planet comes and goes, some are born and some dye,but in the Pantanal this is very obvious.
In November, James Heckman was here. He was daily asking to see a jaguar and an anaconda. He saw a Jaguar, but the anaconda showed up to late. After a few days, our girls found a 2.7 meter long young anaconda right behind our house. Next time, Jim wants to meet her mother ...
Some of you have become closer friends, either by staying with us for a longer time or by coming back again. But all of you have left, in some way, a foot step at our place: as a good idea, a thought, an adventure or a nice laugh. We are happy to be able to exchange such unforgettable experiences with you all !
We hope to
see you again some day, somewhere !
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Marina, Lucas, Leticia and Ana Emília Leuzinger
