First Encounters in the Deep South
June 12, 2025Our recent expedition to the deep south of Suriname tested the limits of both our team and our gear. Navigating beyond the reaches of standard river transport, we relied on dugout canoes and extensive foot portages to reach our target survey area.
The sheer density of the primary rainforest here is difficult to articulate. The canopy creates a permanent twilight that explodes into a cacophony of sound as dusk falls.
Over the course of 14 days, the team documented several noteworthy species including Corallus hortulanus (Amazon Tree Boa) exhibiting highly unusual geographic color variations, significant populations of various poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae), and an undocumented morph of the Bushmaster (Lachesis muta), found deep within a bamboo thicket.
The pristine nature of this ecosystem is a vivid reminder of what is at stake. Through our continued presence and documentation, alongside our conservation partners at Emerald Expeditions, we hope to establish long-term monitoring sites in this extraordinary region.