Drievingerigeluiaard (Bradypus tridactylus), Pale-throutedSloth A lost railway and primitive birds on the Corantine River O n our route to the Wonotobo Falls in the Corantine River in Wannawiro Nature Park and Avanavero Falls in the Kabalebo River, we visited the indigenous Arowak village of Apoera. The village borders Guyana on the other side of the river. There is no bridge so all tra昀케c goes by boat. You can also reach Apoera via the southern East-West road link from Paramaribo via Witagron. However, most visitors arrive at the village by boat. There are some simple accommodations in Apoera where you can just spend the night in a bed. From the village, you can take trips to exploit the surrounding rainforest. There is an abandoned railway work station of the only transport railway ever built in Suriname from the Bakhuis Mountains to Apoera. The railway was never actually put into use and, including the workstation, is slowly being taken over by nature. One of the most interesting excursions was a boat trip down the Corantijn to some islets in the river and the Kaboerikreek. We went here in search of the Hoatzin or stink bird, a primitive species of bird that lives mainly o昀昀 the leaves of the mokomoko plant. This plant grows along the river and creek banks. This particular bird can only be found in a few places in Western Suriname. Along the riverbank is also Suriname’s largest sawmill where the huge logs of Suriname’s best-known woods such as ironwood, greenheart, basra locus, krappa and walaba are sawn. For the birdwatchers among us, a great place to spot some plover species. Nature in the area is beautiful and Apoera, besides being a transit station for the aforementioned location, is also a base for visits to the Bakhuis Mountains and the Blanche Marie falls. Some villages along the way are de昀椀nitely worth a stop. A welcoming reception by the indigenous people awaits you. Apoera 33 Groenespitsneusslang (Oxybelus fulgidus), Green Vine Snake I su magazine su magazine 33 Wi l d l i f e of Sur i name Foto: Jap Smits
34 Online Touch Home