INDIGO are Go!

During the filming trip to Guatemala with Nigel last September, I was lucky enough to meet some incredibly talented, knowledgeable and thoroughly nice naturalists. Rowland Griffin was one such person and he and his equally charming UK business partner Adela Mei, run Indigo Expeditions.

Adela and Rowland on top of
La Danta at El Mirador

Adela Mei - Co-founder of Indigo Expeditions

Both Rowland and Adela are passionate about wildlife and wildlife conservation - particularly reptiles and amphibians. Rowland is an expert herpetologist who spends much of his time working in the field in Guatemala while Adela fronts the UK office running their social media and trip logistics.  They operate regular volunteer conservation based expeditions and nature tours, which anyone can participate in. All are based in Guatemala, a country they have both taken to their hearts.

Indigo's Projects

Indigo's primary interest is the conservation of biodiversity, particularly the reptile & amphibian groups of Guatemala. The scope of their work currently includes two main projects:

The Lost Frogs of Alta Verapaz - Working with Community Cloud Forest Conservation, Indigo Expeditions promotes the conservation of amphibian biodiversity in the highlands of Guatemala, a hotspot of amphibian endemism. The flagship species Plectrohyla teuchestes is endemic to the Xucaneb mountains of Alta Verapaz. Listed as Critically Endangered, its survival is threatened by habitat loss and disease. #indigofrogs

Estación Biológica el Banco - Working with Asociación Fundaselva de Guatemala, Indigo Expeditions has initiated an exciting sea turtle conservation project on the Pacific Coast. Collaborating with the community of El Banco at the tortugario or turtle sanctuary, research includes monitoring populations of olive ridley sea turtles, as well as green sea turtles and leatherback sea turtles in this area of the Pacific coast of Guatemala. #elbanco

Speaking to Rowland a few days ago he had some great news about their turtle project:

"In 2020 there have been approximately 6000 Olive Ridley turtles released by Tortugario el Banco, which is a record year!"

"We provide training with a focus on ethical
and respectful survey and monitoring protocols".

So how did Indigo get started?

"I started working in Guatemala in 2013 under the name Project Chicchan, then as Adela became more and more involved we decided to rebrand to Indigo Expeditions in 2015. For me Guatemala is such an incredibly diverse country. Not just in terms of wildlife but also landscapes and culture. Because of its small size you can go from desert to cloud forest in just a few hours, it's breathtaking! But most of all it's the hearts of the people, their friendliness and warmth, even to complete strangers. Oh, and they have the best avocados in the world!"

Rowland Griffin 

Reptiles and amphibians may be Rowland's passion but he's also a good all-round wildlife guy and is more than happy to point out birds and mammals seen on his expeditions too. When asked about his favourite reptile, I can tell it's a struggle for him to name just one...

"I never tire of finding reptiles and amphibians in the wild and picking my favourites would be very tricky. I once said that my favourite snake was the one I had just found. But I really love encountering yellow-blotched palm pitvipers (often called Rax K'aj, which translates as green lightening). They are such calm and wonderful beings to sit with and watch, I find that exhilarating you know. Being able to sit within a few meters of a wild animal and just watch it go about it's business without disturbing it."

Rowland with a 'Rax K'aj'

Rowland (left) with Guatemalan herper
Andres Novales holding a Green Iguana

From left to right:
Andres Novales, Rowland Griffin and Nigel Marven

Keep your eye's peeled for the release of Wild Guatemala with Nigel Marven this year, where you can see Rowland in action.

I can't recommend Indigo enough. Whether it's for your first trip to Guatemala or a repeat visit you should really check out their range of volunteer conservation activities and trips - you will get no better introduction (or warmer welcome) to this wonderful country.

You can follow Indigo on Twitter (@exploreindigo) and both Facebook and Instagram (@explorewithindigo) or contact Adela to book your next adventurous holiday to Guatemala on info@explorewithindigo.com.

Panama...Canopy Lodge

The Canopy Lodge is a high-end eco-lodge situated a few hours west of the Canopy Tower. Our aim here was to film some of the localised amphibians, reptiles and birds that are found in this old volcanic region. The Lodge sits in beautiful gardens and is home to a great selection of birds.

Crimson-backed Tanager, male

Crimson-backed Tanager, female

Fulvous-vented Euphonia

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Green Honeycreeper, male

Rufous-capped Warbler after a quick bath

Rufous-and-white Wren

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager...they were very common

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Dusky-faced Tanager

Dusky-faced Tanager

That night we filmed in the grounds of the lodge with local herpetologist Mario Urriola. We found some great creatures around their pond, which was just ringing out with the sounds of frogs.

A tiny freshwater crab.

Mario, Nigel and a rather nice Central American Tree boa

Snub-nosed or Panamanian Cross-banded Tree Frog
Smilisca sila, female

Red-webbed Tree Frog, Hypsiboas rufitelus

Neither of these species are particularly uncommon but the next day went to meet a very special frog. Now considered extinct in the wild, we get to meet the critically endangered Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki) at a centre set up to study and save them.

These amazing frogs (actually classified as 'true toads') were once common along Panama's rivers and streams but were decimated by Chytrid Fungus and presumed extinct in the wild since 2007.  Like many tropical frogs and toads they are capable of secreting a water soluble neurotoxin as a defense against predators. Edgardo Griffith and his partner have devoted their working life to studying and captive breeding the species in the hope that they can one day release a chytrid resistant gene pool of the frogs back into the wild.

An extremely rare Golden Frog Atelopus zeteki

Panamanian Golden Frog

The next day we headed back to the Canopy Tower.