Monkeys frolicking in the trees outside with macaws squawking. Shortly after breakfast, we set off hiking into the jungle with the ultimate goal of climbing the canopy bridge. HIGHEST TREE PLATFORM IN SOUTH AMERICA! It is a 90 meter (295 feet) long walkway until you reach the platform at 45 meters (148 feet) high in the crown of an ancient Kapok tree. This was an athletic feat I am proud to say I accomplished. I have walked across other canopy bridges but never one that ascended to so great a height. Pictures do NOT do it justice. It sways continuously and, in several places, the “steps” (blocks of wood nailed to the bridge) were missing so my short little legs had trouble getting purchase. At the top, you crawl through a small opening in the platform where you are finally above the trees.

The picture on the left is me descending the canopy bridge.  The one on the right shows Rick descending with me following the recommended 12 feet behind.  If I thought getting up to the top was difficult, I was in for a big surprise as the descent was the tough part…slippery and at times, the hand holds caused my arms to be completely extended. When I got to the bottom, my legs and arms were shaking so badly I almost collapsed.

After this, we toured the animal preserve where they take care of injured monkeys, jungle cats (big and small), macaws, turtles, whatever animal they find who needs help:

This organization does great work but probably the saddest case is Cholita.  She is spectacled bear, rescued by the Animal Defenders League in 2015.  Poached from the wild as a baby, Cholita was displayed and harrassed for a decade.  Her canines were ripped out and her front digits sawed off at the knuckles just so she couldn’t harm her handlers.  Bad diet, stress, and confinement led to a case of atopecia,  a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body.  Sen a circus wanted her.he suffered for another decade until not even a circus wanted her.

She was finally sent to Taricaya National Reserve and, after a year, she has gained weight, appears to be happy, and is apparently remembering how to be a bear.  Here is Cholita today: