Travelling in a changing world
I imagine that most of us live with a sense of expectation, and I’m certainly no different, especially when it comes to travel. Over the past 11 months, I’ve made trips to Argentina on our way to the Antarctic, South Africa to take part in a safari and, in October, to the Amazon. Essentially, it’s fulfilled numerous bucket list dreams and a deep desire to see some of the incredible natural bird and animal species that inhabit our world.
Prior to going, I’d only dreamt of what I’d encounter, and Antarctica and South Africa were very close to what I would have envisaged. Wildlife in abundance, animals that I’d previously seen only in books or zoos, and, despite the obvious fingerprints of mankind’s involvement and influence plus the increasing effects of global warming, it felt both heartening and hopeful for the future.
Not so the Amazon. This amazing region, including its enormous rainforests and the Amazon River – said to be the world’s largest next to the Nile – is changing exponentially. Visiting on an expedition boat, accompanied by experts who had been brought up in the region, gave us valuable insight into the many changes that are occurring.
Record droughts, obviously low – extremely low – water levels, numerous wildfires, a state of emergency in one of the cities we went to, large areas of deforestation, and no animals unique to the area to be seen. In my rather naive way, I’d expected to see at least some of the 2,000 bird and mammal species I’d learnt of. In preparation and, yes, the expectation of seeing many of them, I’d dutifully attended lectures on bird and butterfly life whilst on the expedition boat. Little was I to know that I’d see only a handful of birds and no butterflies. The most common animals were the cows and horses grazing the land that had once been jungle.
All of this faded into the background, however, when we were gifted with numerous viewings up fairly close to the pink river dolphins found only in the waters of the Amazon River. These beautiful and unique creatures are in imminent danger due to droughts and numerous other environmental factors, so I’m deeply grateful to have seen them. I mention all of this not to offer a reminder that the world’s climates are changing, waters are warming, ice shelves are melting (going to the Antarctic showed me that), and entire species are disappearing or on the verge of extinction, but to remind myself to live in the moment whilst caring for the future.
We live in a beautiful country. We have a small population by world standards, and we can all make little or big choices to help our planet. To ensure that our native species, particularly our native birds, flourish and that when people come to our shores, their expectations aren’t just met, they’re exceeded. So, I’m determined to do whatever I can to both assist this process and support our very own Mother Nature in the hope that others will too.
And now it’s time to take care as we all rush to the end of this full-on and sometimes crazy year. Christmas is coming, and I’m hoping for a kinder, greener world ahead.