Pipeline Alley

by Graham

Pipeline Alley is a secondary rain forest, part of a national park beside the Panama Canal. Most of it was chopped down so the Panama Canal could be built. Today, the forest is only about 100 years old. It would be much bigger if the canal had not been built. Even though it is a secondary rain forest, the trees are still about 100 feet tall. We saw many animals hidden under leaves, and in the trees. Katharine and I spotted most of the animals, including a tiny frog no bigger than a thumb nail, and several lizards that looked like sticks.

Mom said she would buy someone a present under five pesos if they could spot a toucan. Well, none of us did, but a guide found one for her (he cheated because he had a telescope). Too bad about that prize. We saw more sloths than we could count. We walked through the jungle to a small lake in hopes of seeing a crocodile; instead we found another guide. He spotted an iguana. He knew an interesting technique. He would search for an animal with his binoculars. When he found one, he would then point his telescope at it. He took some great pictures by holding my camera up to the lens. It made a super good zoom. As lunch time neared, we were tiring so we decided to go home.

I had a great time there.



Jacobian White-throated humming bird and a Perezoso (sloth)




Sloth video shot by Katharine. When it's raining sloths move pretty quickly.



Mono titi (Tamarind monkey)
While we attacked breakfast, these guys flung themselves through the trees.



For Grace & Mr. B: A real, live Panamanian armadillo spotted by Katharine in an abandoned pool.