Expeditions are not without dangers but whilst the most common causes of accidents result from vehicles, water or tools like machetes, some dangers are more, how shall we say, wildlife specific.
A member of the expedition sustained these injuries whilst hauling
a boat up a shallow creek during the dry season.
Notice one deep, clean circular wound and one wound
consisting of little more than an impression.
What caused these injuries ?
Click on the image for the answer.
Mark was bitten on the right thumb by a rattlesnake
on the Ilha Maracá research station at 18:30,
30 minutes after the Boa Vista radio
had been switched off for the night. We were on our own until they switched back on at 06:00 the next morning.
During the night the swelling advanced harlfway up his arm and the expedition nurse administered antivenom.
Mark went blind and had to be treated with andrenaline.
At 06:00 Boa Vista awoke to learn of the snakebite and sent a vehicle to medi-van the casualty.
The Land Crusier loaded with supplies, ready for the 5.5hour the journey from Boa Vista to Ilha Maracá.
Three people travelled in the cab and three in the open back.
A minor inconvenience, a breakdown enroute. Driver Luiz and Field Director Steve fix the vehicle, geographer Bridget and primatologists Andrea and Alexia watch. Mark took the photograph.
Further down the road the rear right wheel came off causing the vehicle to somersault and throwing the three rear passengers (Steve, Andrea and Mark) out of the back. All were injured, Steve and Andrea seriously.
Vehicles are a major cause of expedition accidents.
