Visiting the Venezuelan Amazon!

The Venezuelan Amazon a place where beauty, mystery and danger reign....

The international fur trade, the sport of hunting, the control of predators and the over-exploitation of their prey have been the main reasons for imminently endangering many species of animals in all parts of the world.

Such is the case for some of the animals that today are in danger of extinction in the Venezuelan Amazon such as the Arrau turtle, the jaguar, the Frontino bear, the Condor, the manatee, Palmero bear or anthill and Cardinalite, to mention just a few.

On the other hand, when we talk about wild animals we all have the impression that they are very dangerous animals: we think of lions in the jungle, bears, tigers, etc. But not all wild animals are dangerous. In fact, all animals were once wild before being domesticated by man. In this case we have that in the Amazon there are animals that, however harmless they seem, are poisonous bombs that can kill people with a single bite or sting, but unless you bother and seek confrontation with the Coral snake or Coralillo, crocodile, Spider Monkey, Electric Anguilla, Bullet Ant, Poison Dart Frog, Green Anaconda and Black Caiman, they will not harm you.

The Amazon is an earthly paradise surrounded by nature, but there are also several tropical illnesses, many of them of great importance such as Malaria, Dengue, Chagas Disease and Yellow Fever. But if you want to travel and get to know the Venezuelan Amazon you will be safe as long as you follow some of the following recommendations:

1. Beware of food and water (use safe water sources).

2. Avoid eating salads, as they may contain parasites. In case it is the only food to consume, because you are a vegetarian, wash the vegetables with vinegar and lemon.

3. Wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

4. Use insecticide as soon as you find yourself in woods.

5. Get vaccinated against yellow fever, salmonella and shiguella by a doctor.