Page 43 - Demo

43THREATNot only does damage to Chiribiquete%u2019s vast protected area of the Amazon, destabilize the lives of those who live within, but it directly threatens our whole planet%u2019s ability to balance carbon (which is made possible by its volume of tropical rainforests).Protecting Chiribiquete helps mitigate climate change by preserving these vital carbon storage systems and maintaining the park%u2019s role in global climate regulation.As dawn strikes the Maloca, sunlight fills the central space and a small group of Carijona finish their hot tea and make sure they have everything they need for this morning%u2019s patrol. Taea is running point today. She is a fearless leader and everyone is keen to get going.The small team of 5 move quietly through the forest. They seem to float like silk over the ground, blending in with their home. They are keen to not disturb and anything... or anyone. About an hour into their hike, they notice that the ground has been disturbed. Not animals, people. They all stop and sink to their knees. Taea points out a trip line. This could be small animal poaching.The group carefully step over the tripwire and head towards where they know is a nature forest clearing with a watercourse trickling through. They scan the ground confused. Small holes have been dug and left open. Strange looking instruments and tools have been set up... What this is they do not know.Then they hear voices. The tress passers are coming back. They do not want to run and trigger a fire fight. They calmly wait and then Taea politely asks what%u2019s going on here.The workers look shifty, and the tension in the begins to increase...PREPARING FOR CHANGEImmediately before pupation, the blue morpho caterpillar enters a pre-pupal stage and ITS entire body colour changes to light green. The larva will attach itself to a twig or large leaf, and will rest while the chrysalis develops beneath the larval skin. The larval skin splits along sutures on its back to reveal the cocoon of silk.