Kalain Hosein, reporting for the Trinidad Guardian:
The Winston Nanan Caroni Chicken Sanctuary’s huge biodiversity and pristine environmental circumstances captured the eye of Lindblad Expeditions and Nationwide Geographic Explorers earlier this week. The 48-member group arrived in T&T final Saturday, visiting Yerette (residence of the hummingbird) in Maracas, St Joseph, Hacienda Jacana in Talparo, the Central Expertise and the Caroni Chicken Sanctuary.
The explorers have been taken by way of a three-hour lengthy birdwatching journey by Nanan’s Caroni Chicken Sanctuary Excursions, a third-generation enterprise now run by Allister Nanan. Additionally they run specialised expedition excursions in Trinidad with birdwatching firms from throughout the globe.
Whereas the media and explorers have been solely handled to viewing a portion of the 12,000-acre swamp, tour guides Nanan and Khemraj used their whistling, attracting the presence of a handful of the a whole lot of species of birds that decision the Chicken Sanctuary their residence.
The explorers, some of their twilight years, have been handled to the sights of a purple, white and black masked cardinal, which is on this nation’s $50 invoice, in addition to a number of species of herons, the pygmy kingfisher, which is considered one of 4 species of kingfisher within the sanctuary, swallows, hawks, in addition to a tropical screech owl nestled distant from the river paths.
The group additionally noticed the a number of silky anteaters and among the crabs that ate up the prolonged mangrove tree roots.
The star of the present remained the night arrival of the nationwide chicken, the Scarlet Ibis, sweeping in by way of the twilight skies.
Talking in regards to the go to, expedition chief Lucho Verdesoto mentioned, “The entire level of coming to Trinidad is definitely to indicate our visitors this unbelievable atmosphere, this pristine ecosystem that you’ve got.” Verdesoto added, “It is a spectacle that you simply don’t get to see many locations on this planet. It’s just about distinctive. That is what we need to see. We need to see issues which might be being protected, and other people care about these locations.”
Nationwide Geographic Explorer documentary filmmaker and Colombian biologist Federico Pardo echoed his colleague’s sentiments, saying: “Up to now, I’m impressed. Not solely by the heat of the individuals however the range of the individuals. I used to be not anticipating to see such a mixture which makes it very interesting but in addition, it’s a Latin American nation with nice biodiversity.”
Lindblad Expeditions-Nationwide Geographic left T&T earlier this week on a world-class expedition ship, heading to Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil.
Carla Cupid, the interim chief government officer of Tourism Trinidad, welcomed the guests. She mentioned, “From all studies, the worldwide explorers have been captivated by our wonderful flora, fauna, and unmatched biodiversity.” [. . .]
For full article, see http://www.guardian.co.tt/information/national-geographic-visits-trinidad-6.2.1552003.f95018883a
Additionally see “Nationwide Geographic in Caroni Chicken Sanctuary,” Heather-Daybreak Herrera, Trinidad Categorical, at
https://trinidadexpress.com/options/native/national-geographic-in-caroni-bird-sanctuary/article_e019c710-3f82-11ed-86a7-fbc8b353d06a.html
[First photo from https://caronibirdsanctuary.com/. Second photo from https://www.nananecotours.com/gallery.]