Azuero Panama

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Ready for the jungle. Biology student Dunnot Polo stands with a walking stick and machete as he scouts a route for the research team to rock climb up an active waterfall in search of spider monkeys. Because much of the land in the Azuero Peninsula has been cleared for cattle grazing, the only viable habitat for spider monkeys exist along steep canyons and rivers where the cows cannot access.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

A baby howler monkey sleeps on a treebranch. He was just learning from his mother how to leap from tree to tree. He would scream and cry before each leap and needed a nap after all of the scary excitement.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Two critically endangered Azuero Spider Monkeys watch the research team from high in the canopy.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

University of Panama student Miguel Montenegro climbs a steep waterfall during a research trip in the Azuero Peninsula to search for critically endangered Azuero Spider Monkeys

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

A carpet of ferns in the tropical dry forest of the Azuero Peninsula

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

A critically endangered Azuero Spider Monkey observes the research team.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Azuero Earth Project staffmember Jairo Bernal (center) and Miguel Montenegro (right) move up a rivulet in search of Azuero Spider Monkeys

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

A male and female howler monkey observe the research team.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Countryside that has been deforested for cattle grazing. Azuero Peninsula, Panama

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

A Black Howler Monkey climbs across the canopy.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

University of Panama microbiologist Cristobal Perez waits with his machete for slower members of the research team (like me) to catch up.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Research students Miguel Montenegro (left) and Dunnot Pulo (right) look into the canopy as a group of Azuero Spider Monkeys moved toward the team.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Baby and mom Howler Monkey

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

Microbiologist Cristobal Perez examines a tree sapling that was grown in the reforestation garden at the Azuero Earth Project headquarters in Pedasi, Panama.

1633 Azuero Earth - Panama

After a long day of hiking, researcher Dunnot Pulo cools his feet in a river.