Eco-adventurers set world record in Panama

By Janet Haney

TWO Bristol, England, natives, have set an unusual world record in Panama which played out like a James Bond action flick, but their aim was to survey endangered species and raise conservation awareness in Panama

Dubbed the Panama Paddlers (http://www.panamapaddle.com), long-time friends Rob Cunliffe and Arron Ford set out in late March to prone paddle board their way along Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific Oceans coastlines in an effort to top the previous prone paddle board record and to raise awareness for conservation efforts in the country. 

The two recently logged 374 miles of prone paddle boarding edging out the old record of 345 miles. Along the way, they discovered two lost manatee populations, survived a night of escape and evasion from drug smugglers, dodged sharks, traversed 11 rivers, dealt with dysentery, navigated around islands, xperienced significant injuries, and lived through three emergency beachings.

“We chose prone paddle boarding because it’s always the greatest intimacy with nature you can have on a vessel. No paddles, just your arms connecting with the water,” said Cunliffe, a medical student at the  University of Brighton. “It was a pretty epic mission and by breaking the record it raised the profile of our expedition and the conservation charities we support.”

Prior to their journey, the men researched conservation issues along the Panamanian coastline, and they specifically wanted to visit Isla Escudo de Veraguas. They quickly learned about a Berkeley, Calif.-based nonprofit called Seacology (http://www.seacology.org) and its projects to defend the island's habitat.

Seacology, an organization that helps protect island environments and assist local communities around the world, is helping safeguard the highly endangered pygmy sloth, whose habitat is Isla Escudo de Veraguas’ dense mangrove forests.
Seacology also provided the island community with environmentally sound cook stoves to both help protect the mangroves and to provide a healthier alternative to women who are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide by cooking indoors with charcoal.

“Rob and Arron’s Panama Paddle journey has helped raised awareness of the amazing coastal habitats and communities of Panama,” said Duane Silverstein, Seacology’s executive director. “Their journey wasn’t without hiccups, but their dedication and good humor have prevailed, and it’s been a wonderful adventure to follow!”

During their quest for a world record, the self-funded Panama Paddlers also helped get the word out about Conservation, Nature and Life Panama (CONAVI,http://www.conavida.org), a group that encourages sustainable development for rural indigenous communities and works to restore and preserve Panama’s natural habitats. Rob and Arron were particularly interested in CONAVI’s research of the Antillean manatee in Bocas del Toro.

“During our travels, we had hoped to take the first wild photos of the endemic salamander, Oedipina maritime, while we were near Isla Escudo de Veraguas, but we learned they are near impossible to find at this time of the year,” Cunliffe said. “We did, however, have more luck finding pygmy sloths while circumnavigating the islands on our paddleboards.”

Ford, a conservationist who works as a farmer, acted as the conservation lead during the Panama Paddle. Little did he know that he’d also have to pinch hit as a nurse after boiling water spilled on Cunliffe’s bare feet.

“In all, it took us four days using eight methods of transport to reach the hospital,” Ford said. “On the way, we smashed one paddle board to pieces, evaded our third shark, and Rob learned to ride a horse.”