The female approaches the dock, They walk upright with their muscular prehensile tail in the air grasping for anything.

When she stops, the tail, almost independantly searches again for grip. It is almost as if the tail is autonomous, a fifth limb of unbelievable dexterity.

Hangin' out, note the tail around the tree trunk.

Here are all three. Apparently the monkeys were rescued from captivity and have some injuries as a result of their captivity. They were too domesticated to be released into the wild, and have been placed here in Isla Linton, a privately owned but uninhabited island.

A Cayuco. Modern ones such as this have a flat transom for an outboard motor.

We took a dinghy ride through some mangrove channels nearby.

Dead-calm waters and winged insects with mouth parts designed to penetrate skin...

...but its ok if you keep moving...

...not like Liz who we dropped off to take the above photo.

While we were anchored in Linton, we met an ex-South African couple who were in the process of settling here. They, in turn, had friends who had rescued a few Sloths. There are 2 and 3 toed species, very different. Here "Bandito" a young Three-toed Sloth meets us, and he was a cute and cuddly visitor.

The internal organs in these animals has adapted for an upside down life. The hair even grows toward the back which normally hangs underneath. This aids rainwater running off.

Even though the hair looks course, it is very soft to the touch.

They can function right way up too, but are best evolved to hang from branches. The claws grow very long and they can relax totally but remain hanging.

Because they are slow moving and not dangerous, they have become victims of children throwing stones, as well as suffering from a shrinking environment.

They are also taken as youngsters to be pets, but rarely survive after being returned to the wild as they have lost their "Bush Skills"

This is "Lightning" a Two Toed Sloth

Liz and Laura took a trip into Sabanitas to get some groceries. The bus drivers stopped and had a chat on the way. No rush here! Next we moved on to Colon.