A RESEMBLANCE ta well-known soccer player

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4 Footballers Who Remind us of Rainforest Animals

It’s a jungle out there, and in this year’s World Cup, footballers are jockeying for a seat at the top of the food chain. While some bring brute strength to the table, others have adapted with speed and cunning. For these athletes, it’s survival of the fittest—just like in the Amazon.

To celebrate the 2014 World Cup, we’ve created a list of footballers who remind us of jungle animals. Do you see the resemblance?

I Got the Moves Like Jaguar

Jaguar in the river bank

Junior Diaz is the World Cup’s fastest player with a 22 mile-per-hour sprint. The Costa Rican defender played in five matches and ran about 35 miles on the field in this tournament as of Tuesday.

Still, Diaz is no match for the jaguar, which can run about twice that fast. These formidable beasts are the largest cats in the Americas, and they have an appetite to match. Jaguars eat large mammals like deer, peccaries, and tapirs. They also snack on birds, turtles, and fish. 

In ancient Native American cultures, jaguars were thought to be gods of the underworld. This myth persisted widely until the Mayan empire fell. Just like the Costa Rican team recently fell. Too soon?

Suarez Bites Like the Bullet Ant

Bullet ants are the world’s largest ants, growing up to an inch long. These nasty denizens of the rainforest floor can both bite and sting, injecting victims with a powerful neurotoxin that causes muscle contractions and a burning sensation. They’re dubbed “bullet” because being attacked by one feels like getting shot. (See also “Top 5 Strangest Rainforest Animals”)

Luis Suarez may not look like a bullet ant, but his bite is just as potent. Nicknamed “The Cannibal,” Suarez was suspended last month for biting another player during a game. The Uruguayan midfielder leaned over mid-play and clamped his pearly whites on Germany’s Giorgio
Chiellini. 

In the Amazon, bullet ants are traditionally used during local coming-of-age ceremonies, where young men have to endure multiple bites and stings to secure a place within the community. And while Suarez’s bite might not pack the same punch as a bullet ant, it could have serious health implications. The human mouth contains hundreds of strains of bacteria—some of which don’t hurt their hosts but can be fatal to others.

 

The Naked Truth About Croatian Footballers

Croatian footballers caused a stir when photos of them relaxing naked by their hotel pool circulated the Internet. Two photographers hid in the bushes while the squad lounged in the buff and quickly sold the resulting photos to media outlets. Angry that their privacy had been violated, the team refused to give interviews to World Cup reporters.

 

 

Peruvian-Hairless-DogPeruvian Hairless Dog

Luckily, the Peruvian hairless dog is much less self-conscious about its nudity—its picture adorns artifacts from the Moche, Inca, Chancay, and Chimu peoples. The ancient breed is affectionately called the “Peruvian Inca Orchid.” Prized for its heat-radiating skin, many locals prefer cuddling with their canines to hot compresses or heating pads. (You can cuddle up in one of our rainforest villas.)

These bald dogs get flack in a society accustomed to fuzzy pooches. Peruvian hairless dogs are often strong contenders for the World’s Ugliest Dog competition. Do their human counterparts on the Croatian team match suit? You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Tim Howard and the Poison Dart Frog

The U.S. goalie Tim Howard wears a bright green jersey that reminds us of a poison dart frog. These gorgeous creatures come in many different colors besides green, dotting the rainforest with splashes of gold, copper, blue, and red. Their bright coloration is a warning that tells predators to back off—or suffer the toxic consequences. Poison dart frogs ooze poison from their skin that can maim or even kill their attackers. (If looks could kill… These exotic amphibians would slay us.)

 

Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart Frog

 

There are several species of poison dart frog that carry their eggs and tadpoles around on their backs—just like Howard carried the U.S. team through the country’s first two matches. During the U.S. versus Belgium game, Howard made 16 saves—the most ever recorded during a World Cup game.

By: Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato

 

Want to see more jungle animals? Check out our tours of the Amazon with Rainforest Expeditions.

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The lodge is located in the middle of the forest accessible only by boat. The experience was very unique and exciting. Service is great, and the fun part are the nature activities and tours the hotel offers for free. We had an amazing tour guide that had a lot of knowledge and was fun to spend time with. The rooms are totally open to the forest which is really cool the struggle is the there is no privacy at all in between the rooms, also food was pretty basic. All together a very unique experience. Read all

This hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and hospitality, with the natural experience. The hotel is reached by a hours boat ride from Puerto Maldonado, expertly organized and accomplished. Most staff are members of the local Esa Ejja community. The food is good and plentiful. Hot water is always available and lovely bedding features mosquito nets. There is of course no air conditioning (one side wall is open in rach room) and the electricity is off for a few hours at night affecting overhead fans, so I was glad to have brought a small battery powered fan for sleeping. But the best of the experience is the wildlife. Our expert guide Oscar Mishaja introduced us to nearly 100 bird species, along with caimans, river otters, poison dart frogs and capybara. A trip of a lifetime. Read all

Excellent experience overall— really kind and welcoming staff at every point of the journey. All transfers were well organized and smooth. Excellent and educational excursions all around the rainforest. Delicious food for every meal. We had wonderful guides- Freet and Alvaro. Enjoyed our time here! Read all

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We had a surreal experience at Refugio Amazonas. From the well organized transportation to the warm welcome, hospitality and the experience of living in nature - we loved it all. Huge shout out to our guide Boris who went out of his way to ensure we had a good experience and got to watch all kinds of wild life. The meals and cocktails were delicious. And even though this place is smack in the middle of the jungle there was super fast WiFi available. We made unforgettable memories. Read all

We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. Read all

We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. This is the only lounge available in Tambopata national park, and this eco lounge takes environment seriously. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. If you are a natural lover, you can’t miss this place Read all

Excellent and luxurious place, wonderful experience and our guide Boris was first class, he had a unique patience with my 8 year old son. An experience in the tropical rainforest that marks the life of its visitors. In addition to the scientific research that takes place in the place: a whole research center. Rooms: Very comfortable and luxuriou Read all

El mejor hotel para visitar la Amazonia peruana. Hotel eco turístico metido en medio de la selva, equipado para visitar y vivir la selva, su flora y fauna, en todas sus facetas. Todo incluido, con guías preparados y amables, resultó una experiencia increíble para mi familia. Dentro de las opciones no se debe perder el Canopy de 45 metros de altura para observar y escuchar la selva, así como el lago de las tres Chimbadas, lugar único para ver caimanes, nutrias gigantes, monos y aves exóticas. Recomiendo mínimo dos noches!!! Read all

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