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Guyanese-German team discovers legendary source of the Essequibo River
The mighty Essequibo River holds many secrets. But journeying into the depths of its wilderness to discover its source has been proven to be a dangerous adventure even for an experienced Guyanese-German team.
However, after a fierce battle with the unpredictable moods of Mother Nature, their expedition was successful. This journey was captured in a one hour documentary by “Blue Paw Artists.”
The Blue Paw Artists will produce a full-length documentary for German Public TV which will be broadcast in spring 2014 in Germany and France.
Members of the Guyanese-German team pose for a picture at the source of the Essequibo River.
The award-winning international company was founded by Marion Pöllmann and Rainer Bergomaz in1996.
The debut of the documentary took place on Monday last at the home of the ambassador of the European Union; Mr. Robert Kopecky.
The Guyanese-German team was the first modern equipped team to follow the Essequibo river right to its source.
From March to May, a team consisting of Guyanese and German nationals spent six weeks in the secluded Acarai Mountains of Guyana.
The Guyanese team members were; Mr. Duane Defreitas, Mr. Duane DeFreitas jnr., Mr. Orvin Felix, Mr. Richard Wilson, Ms. Belinda Francis who were all of Dadanawa Ranch.
Also a part of the Guyanese line up from the village of Masakenari was Mr. James Sozo, Mr. Eleazea Mawasha, Mr. Simeon Mawasha, Mr. Elisha Marawanaru, Mr. Nereus Chekema and Mr. Yung Sandy of Surama who went as the cameraman for Blue Paw Artists.
The German Team members were Professor Martin Oczipka and for Blue Paw Artists Ms. Marion Pöllmann and Mr. Rainer Bergomaz.
The documentary was not only captivating but revealed a different world which existed in the river.
It started off by showing how the team started with five boats in Parabara as they set out for Essequibo and followed the river into the south.
After four days, they arrived in Masakenari where the Wai Wai (an Amerindian tribe) team joined the tour. After an introduction to the village by Toshao Paul Chekema, the journey continued to the confluence of the Chodikar and Sipu rivers, which is the longest tributary.
The voyage was supported by maps from Land and Survey, Guyana and satellite imagery supplied by the German Space Agency.
The first half of Sipu River was without much trouble until the river split. It was here that stalks of bamboo barred their way and untamed nature showed just how challenging she can be.
As the team tried to create a passage way, it was time to take a rest. But the next day, the river unexpectedly changed in size and the fight this time, was for buoyancy which lasted for several hours.
However, after pushing the boats until they could find enough water to keep them afloat, more blocked passages appeared.
The further they went up the river, the more bizarre the plants and the animals got.
Even their cutting edge technology faced several difficulties as they tried to find the correct route which was cloaked in every conceivable shade of green at several sections.
In the end the team had to leave the boats and walk for some miles in order to find another route.
After battling sudden sickness and unpredictable heavy showers, the team was back on track. But food supply was nearing its end, and now more than ever time was certainly of the essence.
They eventually progressed from rough waters onto placid black waters which seemed inviting but was pregnant with evil as the steadied eyes of caimans observed their every move as they sat on the river banks.
The most impressive biological findings, beside the unexpected bamboo forest, were the Dendrobates Azureus, a beautiful blue frog, and a nesting colony of Guyana´s National Bird the Hoatzin. Detailed GPS documentation was made during the expedition, and the data presented to Guyanese officials and counterparts.
This, according to the team, will enrich the knowledge of the southern parts of Guyana, as there have been expeditions to the Acarai Mountains before; however, the position of the source of the Essequibo and its source valley have never before been recorded.
Nevertheless the expedition team followed the southern-most creek until it disappeared. There, the youngest team member, Mr. Nereus Chekema planted the Guyanese Flag and took pictures to capture the memorable event.
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