Well...I am glad to see that the venezuelan govt is taking conservation of these highlands seriously. Peter is right about the contamination with foreign species. I don't know, but perhaps inititatives such as washing shoes etc in bleach before taking them up the mountain (similar to the measures taken in Costa rica to prevent the spread of fungus that can decimate frogs) might help.
I do understand that those specimens take a while to grow...decades even, but I guess I am proposing that seed collection by the local authorities (sort of like farming) might be a wonderful economic perspective.
Anyways...thanks again for the wonderful pics.
Eh, the feeling I got is that they took to taking bribes and rummaging around our camera equipment a lot more seriously than they do preserving the tepuis.
By the way, I am feeling better now, and will be posting pics soon.
---------- Post added at 04:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:26 PM ----------
Okay, so I've been really really sick since my arrival, and haven't been able to post my pictures up, but I am feeling slightly better today, and thought I'd give it a go.
Slums of Caracas:
Venezuelan National Guard, a group of folks we became intimately familiar with by the end of the trip:
First supper with the entire group:
The highly staffed and under utilized airport in Santa Elena:
First view of the Gran Sabana:
Odd little savanna plant:
Termite Mound:
Jasper Creek:
Stuff in the jungle around Jasper Creek:
Leaf Cutter ant at Jasper Creek:
Apparently restricted area of Jasper Creek, with sundews:
Jasper Creek Utricularia, which one was this, Jon?