Guatemala, Tikal

We have arrived in Tikal, an extensive set of Mayan ruins that has been reclaimed by the jungle. The ruins are guarded by a family of demons that have escaped from hell. At night and in the mornings you can hear these demons issuing forth screams of agony, spite and hatred which could only be generated by a supernatural being.

Well it turns out that my first interpretation of these jungle screams was incorrect. These sounds of pain and torment are not the result of a family of demons. They are made by the howler monkey. The monkey’s appearance is of no great consequence when compared with the sounds it produces. They are small black creatures that live in the tree tops. They are about as threatening as a piñata.

I have learned the “true legend” about the howler monkeys. These monkeys fulfill a critical ecological function. The jungles around Tikal are only slightly cooler than Dante´s hell. Each morning before dawn the howler monkeys begin they terrifying screams. These sounds are so intimidating that they actually manage to frighten the sun from the sky for a few minutes each day. Sadly, as the jungles are destroyed, there are fewer of these monkeys; the sun spends more and more time in the sky and global warming results.

Skiing gets worse, the jungles gets hotter and deserts get dryer; I have found the reason. There are no longer enough howler monkeys to chase the sun from the sky.