Domestics

As much as many romantically-inclined biologists would love to see it wild and untouched, the reality is that La Honda has been occupied by rural people from ancient times — and along with them came their ways of interacting with the surrounding landscape, and the companion animals that humans have been domesticating for thousands of years. La Honda is a conservation-designated place under the management of Cornare, and there are practices here that are, in the strict letter of the law, forbidden. But it is also a neighbourhood where people live. Any honest portrait of this place has to include the lives that share it with the forest's wild species.

This chapter is an album of some of the pets and farm animals of La Honda.

Zoe

Zoe belongs to Humberto, who works in cattle ranching in La Sierra and La Mascota. She works alongside him from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. — clearing roads, maintaining pastures, and helping with other farm chores. She loves playing with big sticks, following scent trails, fighting with tatabras, and just staying close to Humberto. She is not a picky eater; she loves every kind of food. She is rough, strong, and very loyal.

Ciro

Also known as Ciruelo, Mosco, Zancudo, Cirilo. He is as small as he is powerful — you would think he is thin, but he is remarkably fit and skilful. He can be compared to Speedy Gonzales; he is the best walker and trail-runner in town. He can walk and traverse the countryside for hours, preferring to be with Henrri and Lupita (his dog friend). He is at home walking in the rainy season along creeks, and even through the cold long nights without a whimper. He is very aware of his energy and food requirements, and he is paleo-conscious: he only likes protein and fat — cheese, meat, chicken, cat food, butter, egg yolks (but not whites), fish — and only occasionally, on difficult trips, does he slip up and have a bite or two of dulce de leche panelita.

Bocachica

At the end of La Honda, deep inside the canyon, rests Sigfredo Lopes. His secluded life — the distance from his farm to La Honda village is about an hour and a half on foot — is interrupted only by his team of friendly pets and animal workers, who are always happy to join him in the everyday chores.

Coco

The loyalest dog. Devoted, always protecting him. His shadow in the coffee plantation, at the house, and on the mule trail on Fridays, when Sigi rides out on his mule to visit his sister.

Teo

Thin and noisy, he decided early on that he was not all that fond of farm work. No lover of the coffee plantation, he is happy staying at home protecting Sigi's place and belongings — no one can judge him, because he has a marvellous view and plenty of chickens to look at, and why not, eat the occasional egg in the meantime.

He is always ready to take the mule track when Sigi is ready to hit the road, and he switches in an instant from overly protective house guardian to a sweet, friendly dog the moment he notices that visitors might want to share some lunch with him — protein please, carbs only when the chickens themselves show some interest, because he is not a giving spirit.