On the way to the Napo Wildlife center – right before the Anangucocha lake, the Aanangu creek opens up wide. It’s like a small lake that seems to be the end of the journey – a cul-de-sac of sorts. It was here the oldest and largest Black Caiman in the area was watching us – without creating a single ripple on the mirror-like water surface.

Only when I looked more closely at the shot did I notice it’s being pestered by bot flies or at least a local variety of a ravenous blood sucker.

This specimen has been measured and is a whopping 4 metres long!