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Phew! It's good to be home, but we already miss the rhythm of our paddles, the sounds of the rainforest, and meeting new people. We certainly learned a lot about the animals and plants of the rainforest. We learned about new cultures and lifestyles. And we spent time thinking about ways to make this a better world.

But, we want to find out what you learned from the expedition! What did you learn about the Amazon? Did you learn about a new culture or country? Did we inspire you to get outside and explore new places? What will you take away from The Trans-Amazon Expedition?

Is there anything that you will change about your lifestyle or habits to be more environmentally-friendly? What are you doing to make our planet better?


Help us answer the daily dilemma
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If you need a hint you can use your mouse to hunt for clues in the space below!

I come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.

I spent my early days living in the water.

Some species of my family are poisonous.

 

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People often ask us if we’re frightened of being eaten by jaguars. I generally tell that it’d be a dream come true if I saw one in the wild. Jaguars, like other cats, are very elusive and timid animals. I’m sure that many jaguars have seen the WCO team paddling by.

Jaguars have adapted well to the wet environment of the Amazon. They are very good swimmers, and unlike other cats, they actually seek out water for bathing and swimming. However, they spend most of their time on the forest floor and in small trees.

Much of the jaguar’s prey is made up of aquatic mammals, turtles, and even fish. However, the jaguar is hardly an animal that only hunts in the water. In fact, jaguars have been known to leap at their from the treetops. Imagine if you’re a deer or tapir and a 150-250 lb. cat leaps down on top of you. Try getting away from that!

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The jaguar’s fur keeps it camoflagued in the jungle. Jaguars are also very strong, giving it the strength to move slowly and silently through the forest. But when a jaguar is ready to hunt, it can move extremely fast.

At one time, jaguars were some of the America’s top predators. They could be found all over South and Central America. However, they are extremely endangered. Habitat loss and over-hunting have caused the jaguar to move to only the most remote section of the Amazon basin.

For further exploration, check out these web sites.

National Geographic's Animal Facts and Photos

The Belize Zoo's Jaguar Page

The Houston Zoo's Jaguar Page
dave_audio.jpg 5/16 Audio Update by Dave Freeman






Use Trip Tracker to look at our daily photos, gather daily statistics, and follow our progress on an interactive map.

If you are unable to see the map try using a different internet browser. We recommend Firefox, which you can download for free!


notes_logo_green.png We are slowly transitioning from life on the river to life back in the United States. It's really delightful to back home in the United States. We've been catching up on sleep, visiting with friends and families, and sharing... Read this week's Notes from the Trail!


cultural_logo.png We learned a lot about the plants and animals of the rainforest from the people we living in the Amazon.The more we explore, understand, and learn about our earth, the more we learn about how lifeforms are connected. Learning about... Read more!


Lesson Plans
Critters in Your Own Backyard
File: Critters in Your Own Backyard
Grade Level: 3-5 Subject: Science

More lessons!


Cast YOUR Vote today!

While our travel in the Amazon Basin has been quite environmentally friendly (paddling canoes every day), our travel to the Amazon (by airplane) produced a lot of CO2. We have been trying to figure out how to reduce our carbon... Cast YOUR Vote!


eco_logo.png 5/16/2008 Eco Tip
Change the color of your home. Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate. This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

More Eco Tips!


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