River Otter Mammal Calabash Christmas tree ornament and hand rattle
These unique Christmas tree ornaments and rattles are made from calabash tree pods (gourds) by native artisans from the Ampiyacu River region of the Peruvian Amazon. This rattle features an image of the giant river otter - the sleek and agile hunter in the Amazon river system. It eats mostly catfish and other fish but also catches snakes, crabs, turtles and small caiman. It can grow to more than five feet long making it the largest member of the weasel family. It is highly social living in groups with up to 8 family members. Other than people hunting it for its meat or pelt, the river otter has no serious natural predators.
This rattle has a chambira palm fiber chord allows it to be hung from a Christmas tree. The beads inside also make it a great rattle that fits in the palm of your hand.
Please remember that the artisan carves these rattles one at a time so the exact design of the animal and shape of the calabash pod may vary from the photo shown of this model.
Model: ORWM007
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Amazon forest loss is driving species to extinction, aggravating global warming, and robbing people of unique medicines, foods and other benefits. Cutting and burning forests is often more profitable than conserving them, so some native communities in northern Peru have illegally logged and grown coca and other cash-crops to escape poverty.
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