Natalia Romero Santiago
Los Árboles Tulum (LAT) is a truly unique place, one that demonstrates that humans and nature can coexist without disrupting each other’s course of life. Here, people are committed to supporting the conservation of flora and fauna, with a special interest in the true protagonists of the jungle: spider monkeys.
As biologists, one of our greatest aspirations is to work with wildlife, to be surrounded by nature, and to learn from our environment every day. However, opportunities like this do not always come easily. Therefore, being part of the spider monkey project of ConMonoMaya is a privilege. Personally, having the opportunity to participate in this project has brought me a wide variety of experiences and lessons, from learning how to identify monkeys in the field to becoming completely independent and living on my own. I´ve had some incredible experiences, but I have also faced several challenges, such as arriving in an unfamiliar place, adapting to a different lifestyle, and daring to venture into the jungle on my own. Nevertheless, all of this has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
In addition to personal growth, my time in LAT has also helped me strengthen my professional and social skills in the field. I´ve come to understand that communication in teamwork is extremely important, and that all team members must both physically and mentally well. It is also essential to have the maturity to express potentially different viewpoints respectfully in order to maintain a harmonious environment among the team. Among other things I have learned is the use of field tools such as a GPS (global positioning device) and the different techniques used to record information, which are fundamental for monitoring the behavior of the monkeys. For example, while I was learning how to orient myself using a GPS, my teammates encouraged me to guide us back from the jungle to the street after finishing the data collection with the monkeys. At first, I felt a bit nervous because I did not want to take too long, and many times I thought we were walking in a straight line when in reality we sometimes ended up circling the same area for a while. I am very grateful that, despite being tired after following the monkeys all morning, my teammates were patient with me and gave me advice to help develop my skills with a tool that was completely new to me when I first started working in LAT.
I arrived at Los Árboles Tulum with theoretical knowledge about spider monkeys (what they eat and how they behave) based on what I had read in books and scientific articles, but I had never applied it in the field. Being able to be with the monkeys, observe them, and learn from them little by little is an unparalleled experience. From watching them wake up, yawn, and stretch in the mornings, to running after the group as they actively search for food, every moment in LAT is unique. I particularly remember one day when I encountered a lot of different animals in a single day. In the morning, while observing the monkeys, I saw a flock of wild turkeys; their feathers had bluish tones and they were calmly basking in the sun. At midday, I was fortunate enough to see a pair of woodpeckers (very different from those I was familiar with), feeding from a tree right in front of me. However, the most impactful moment occurred at dusk. After checking the monkeys’ sleeping sites, I encountered a family of coatis made up of around 30 individuals, including females and young. They were all emerging from the jungle, crossed the road, and then re-entered the forest. I had never seen so many coatis together and at such a close distance; I was completely absorbed by the scene I had just witnessed.
From day one, I have dedicated myself to observing and recognizing the trees that make up the jungle, the birds that sing in the mornings, and to being amazed by the small details I discover daily in the forest. Although the routine is usually the same, every day is different. Sometimes I find an interesting anthill, other times a bat tent, and I have even come across fungi with surprising colors and shapes. Sharing everything I find or learn with the residents, as well as answering some of their questions, makes me very happy. It is a moment when I feel that all the work has a clear purpose, since being able to share what we observe in the field is a key part of conservation and monitoring.
I feel very grateful to be part of a great team made up of biologists, researchers, and the residents of LAT, who make this entire project possible thanks to their constant interest and support.