Just spent the afternoon releasing baby tortoises into the Amazon. It was all part of a project to conserve and protect Amazonian wildlife, or more specifically various species of tortoise.

We steamed off on one of the large river boats full of a cheery mass of wildlife enthusiasts, or maybe just enthusiasts with nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon. We sailed for about an hour, during which there was a draw for tortoise preservation tee shirts, (I got one but so I think did 90% of the passengers - some of them, unlike me, even got an appropriate size) until we came to a large island where we had to be ferried ashore by small boats.

There were a number of vats full of baby tortoises and an area of beach fenced off and lined with small crates. Several posters were on display explaining the tortoise's problems and how they were being sorted out thanks to the public authorities of the region. One had an English translation of the "rotdogs sold here" variety. There was a loudspeaker system set up and an awning under which stood representatives of the various bodies involved in this project. There were speeches from each of them, about six in all I'd say. And then various votes of thanks. You didn't need to be able to understand much Portugese to know what was going on.

I expect the speeches were boring because before they were finished some enthusiasts got hold of a few tortoises, put them on the sand, pointed them towards the river and wished them luck. Eventually there was a more substantial release when the crates were filled from the vats and hundreds of tortoises were given their freedom. Some of them didn't quite understand and went the wrong way but amazingly the vast majority made straight for the river. How on earth did they know which way to go? Maybe they are geared to go downhill.

When it was over we all clambered back into little boats, got aboard the mother ship and enjoyed a snack and a cold drink on the way home. All this courtesy of the various sponsoring bodies.