Caratinga part II

I got up at 8am, I could hear voices at the researcher station. Vera was there, as was 3 biologist, Taty, Marlon and Zito. I ate breakfast. It was self served but they helped me. Though I couldn't understand everything I was usually getting the jist of what they were saying. Zito opened the fridge and said something, so I took this to mean I could eat anything in the fridge or use it as I need to. After I finished breakfast, the short and tiny biologist, Taty, asked if I wanted to join her in the forest. She was researching the muriqui, the new worlds largest primate and the main reason I was here. I actually saw a troupe of muriqui yesterday as I was waiting. They crossed the road in the trees right near the station. I was surprised that both groups showed no fear of me, when they saw me below taking photographs.
    I wasn't sure how I was going to explore the forest, if I needed a guide or what, so I was happy when Taty offered to go with her.  We walked down the road, listening for the horse like call of the muriqui. This large primate stands 1.5m tall and weighs up to 15kg. They are more relaxed than most primates and spend a lot of time playing,hanging upside down and hugging. There are only about 2500 left in the wild with only 500 left of the rarer northern muriqui, the one in Caratinga. There are 300 animals in Caratinga, representing over half of the population. Back in the 1940's there were only 8 muriqui on record here. Then a farmer, committed himself to preserving a huge chunk on native Atlantic rainforest on his property. This was unheard of in a time when everyone was cutting down their forest. Years later, the property became a park and researchers came here to study the muriqui. They have been studied for over 25 years now.
     Taty was looking for her study group. She kept in radio contact with Marlon and she had GPS. We walked further down the road and got word from Marlon where the group was. The park is very hilly and we climbed a huge hill. On top was a large group of muriqui. Even with us 3 right below them, they were not afraid. One that was eating allowed me to approach within almost 2m of him! They were fun to watch and I got a lot of great photos. Then a troupe of howler monkeys arrived. Then a troupe of brown capuchin monkeys! There are 4 species of primates in Caratinga and I was right below 3 of them. I couldn't ask for much more! This was so cool. We spent a while up here. Taty and Marlon were taking notes. Mid afternoon Marlon was going back to the station and asked if I wanted to go back. I did, we had been out for almost 6 hours and I was happy with what I saw today. I ate lunch, washed clothes and took a nap. I didn't do much the rest of the day.
    The researchers have it pretty comfortable here. Vera cooks and cleans for them. They have a nice living area and TV, though no internet. After dinner I watch a movie on my ipod.