Josh of the Jungle

September 2, 2014

After three unforgettable weeks here at Zoorefugio Tarqui, the time has come to say goodbye and start a new chapter of this trip. A full recounting of my time spent working here at the zoo and exploring the rainforest is coming soon, but for now here are a few peeks at life in the jungle.

Bros 4 lyfe (with Ricky the capuchin monkey)

Bros 4 lyfe (with Ricky the capuchin monkey)

Guacamaya (Scarlet Macaw)

Guacamaya (Scarlet Macaw)

Mama and Papa Tayra share a smooch

Mama and Papa Tayra share a smooch

What A Pig (Amazonian Peccary)

What A Pig (Amazonian Peccary)

Cuchucho (Coati)

Cuchucho (Coati)

Saimiri (Squirrel monkey a.k.a. Will-take-everything-out-of-your-pockets-and-eat-it monkey)

Saimiri (Squirrel monkey a.k.a. Will-take-everything-out-of-your-pockets-and-eat-it monkey)

Ranger the Puma (Cougar / Mountain Lion)

Ranger the Puma (Cougar / Mountain Lion)

Tapir table manners

Tapir table manners

Oso Perezoso (Three-toed Sloth)

Oso Perezoso (Three-toed Sloth)

Brenda the Jaguar

Brenda the Jaguar

Bros 4 lyfe (with Ricky the capuchin monkey)

Guacamaya (Scarlet Macaw)

Mama and Papa Tayra share a smooch

What A Pig (Amazonian Peccary)

Cuchucho (Coati)

Saimiri (Squirrel monkey a.k.a. Will-take-everything-out-of-your-pockets-and-eat-it monkey)

Ranger the Puma (Cougar / Mountain Lion)

Tapir table manners

Oso Perezoso (Three-toed Sloth)

Brenda the Jaguar

Cascada Hola Vida

Cascada Hola Vida

Don't look down

Don't look down

End of the road.  Rio Pastaza

End of the road. Rio Pastaza

Volcán Sangay

Early morning eruption (Volcán Tungurahua)

Early morning eruption (Volcán Tungurahua)

Harvesting leaf-cutter ant soldiers (ukuis) before dawn

Harvesting leaf-cutter ant soldiers (ukuis) before dawn

A bag full of ukuis

A bag full of ukuis

Pan-fried Ukui for breakfast, anyone?

Pan-fried Ukui for breakfast, anyone?

Beehive removal: overkill mode

Beehive removal: overkill mode

G0100309 (2) (1279x1280).jpg

Cascada Hola Vida

Don't look down

End of the road.  Rio Pastaza

Volcán Sangay

Early morning eruption (Volcán Tungurahua)

Harvesting leaf-cutter ant soldiers (ukuis) before dawn

A bag full of ukuis

Pan-fried Ukui for breakfast, anyone?

Beehive removal: overkill mode

G0100309 (2) (1279x1280).jpg

#nationaldogday (as if I needed an excuse)

Pic by @maxxintx

Good morning from #Texas

Retrato del Perezoso de la Amazonia (Amazonia Sloth Portrait) #tbt

This little lady finally woke up from hibernation, told me she was hungry for empanadas.

#mcm (that is, #monkey crush Monday): This time last year I was lucky enough to get to volunteer with rescued animals like Ricky the #CapuchinMonkey at Zoorefugio Tarqui in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Head to the URL in the comments below to find out how

#tbt in #Chile (and #peru!). In parts of the #Atacama #Desert, it doesn't rain for years on end, and the land looks like Mars than Earth. You can ride for hundreds of miles without seeing a single tree, cactus, or blade of grass out here.

#tbt in #Chile week 2: Shared my lunch with this dark-haired cutie one afternoon, but I didn't have room to stuff in her my jacket and take her with me :'(

Going back to #Chile for #tbt : Moonrise in the #Atacama #Desert with my friend Oristárco from #Santiago.

#tbt "Camping behind a gas station in Arica, on the Chile/Perú border". This one goes out to anyone who ever had to rough it while out on the road and knows that real international travel isn't always as glamorous as our instagram ac

It's a big world, and you'll never see most of it if you only take paved roads. (#tbt Andes Mountains, Ayacucho Region, Peru)

Mantra of Miles: South America Dashboard

Distance traveled: 9871mi/15,886Km

Borders crossed: 11

Nights camped: 31

Empanadas eaten: 84

Got a stat you want to see here?

Let me know!

Become an official Mantra of Miles Sponsor for as little as $1.

More information is available on the SUPPORT page.