A Volunteer experience at Caño Palma

Gliding through the winding bends of the Caño Palma river on my way to the station I wasn't really sure what to expect ahead of my time here. Having spent some time in Nicaragua before arriving, I thought I knew what jungle looked like but the beauty and sense of energy the rainforest possessed soon made me realise this place was like a whole other world. Everywhere I looked or listened, there was life – Howler monkey calls from the trees, birds darting across the river, and the constant hum of cicadas. 

Early mornings, long walks in humid jungle conditions, and late-night surveys took some getting used to. However, the experiences I had in the rainforest quickly made losing a few hours of sleep feel like a very small sacrifice. 

One evening during a long snake survey, it was approaching 10p.m. and I was feeling a little tired when Manuel spotted a large Fer de Lance (a venomous species of viper native to Central America) crossing the path ahead of us. Before coming to the station I had never seen a venomous snake in real life, to be able to encounter such a large and beautiful reptile in the wild was an unforgettable experience and it was very exciting watching Manuel skillfully handle it into a snake collection bag so it could be processed the next day. 

The friendly atmosphere at the station made settling into jungle life much easier. The interns and research coordinators created a real sense of community, and after many hours spent on surveys I began to feel a strong sense of satisfaction from the skills I was learning.  

I noticed this the most during Mammals surveys. On my first survey, I remember feeling completely bewildered by how anyone could distinguish these tiny scratches and squidges in the mud and identify them as different animals such as Agoutis or Armadillos. However, the more time I spent studying and sharing slightly ambiguous guesses with Manuel, the more I managed to gradually recognise and distinguish between the different animals that inhabit the jungle. I found this such a rewarding experience and so satisfying once I started to feel more confident in my identification skills. 

As a volunteer I was lucky enough to have more time to go out on surveys as I wasn't focused on a particular project or research question. When I wasn’t out in the jungle or on the beach, I also helped enter and process data collected at the station. Being involved in different types of research gave me a much better understanding of the ecosystem surrounding Caño Palma and introduced me to species and conservation work I knew very little about before arriving. 

Another memorable experience took place during an otter survey in Tortuguero National Park. After a 20-minute speedboat ride along the river, Manuel dropped myself and three other interns near the river mouth to begin our kayak survey. I was an hour into kayaking along the jungle river bank searching for signs of otter activity such as scat (otter faeces) when a sudden thrashing in the water ahead caused me to instinctively paddle backwards. A caiman had come out of the water and was laying in the undergrowth on the side of the river bank! 

Caimans are usually only visible by their head, so to be able to sit quietly in my kayak and observe the entirety of such a beautiful animal (once my heartbeat had slightly settled!) was a really special experience. It definitely sparked an interest in these ancient reptiles for me.

Living with like-minded people who shared a passion for wildlife and conservation made my experience even more enjoyable. Evenings watching the sunset at Playa Norte, followed by card games after dinner, also created some great memories and made the station quickly feel like home.  

I originally planned to stay one month at the station but stayed for almost two and I’m already thinking about when I might be able to come back. The skills in conservation I have learnt during my time here have been immensely useful. I have come to the station before beginning a degree in biology and really feel the practical insight will give me a massive head start when I begin my studies back in the UK. 

Sam Melville