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Chasing Iguanas in the old Canal Zone |
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By Louis J. Barbier - BHS 1957 |
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Here is a little story about iguanas... enjoy.
Chasing iguanas at the Arrijan Tank Farm. Back in the mid 80's I had escaped to Panama. I was living in Hato Pintado and working for the US Navy at Rodman Naval Station in building #2. Among all of my supply duties, I was also the designated station's Inventory Accuracy Officer. This assignment had some really great bennies. |
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Once a week I would take a run up to the Arrijan Tank Farm. This vast storage facility on the way to Arrijan contained aviation fuel, US Navy Special, Bunker C Oil and gasoline. The gasoline was evaporating under the tropical sun but the Fuel Officer suspected a theft. I spent 4 months gauging the tanks and I never discovered any real discrepancy. But since it got me out of the office I would make the run each week. |
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During the dry season the tall grass dries up and turns very brown. The tall grass at the tank farm was a natural habitat for the iguanas. There wasn't a week that went by when we didn't spot a few iguanas darting across the meandering road that cut through the jungle. I had eaten iguana but I was not really too thrilled in capturing them. Why? Because of the wicked welts these iguanas could give when they whip their tails about. I usually went for the mangos that were in the trees all around the tank farm. Taking a sack of those mangos home would really make my week. |
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On this particular day, I got to team up with Paco Dominguez. He spoke some broken English but he was a great iguana hunter. That morning we would gauge about 8 tanks. These were scattered all over the farm. So, after having a piping hot cup of delicious Cafe Duran, we jumped in a hazy gray pickup and took off to the first tank, We had our clipboard, weighted tape reel, some white paste to coat the end of the tape and some rags. Of course, we both wore hats to protect us from the blistering tropical sun. The pickup had no air conditioning so after about a 1/4-mile we were both sweating. The gauging of the tanks is not too difficult. You climb up on top of the tank and locate the inspection port. You pop it open and lower the tape after applying the white paste. With practice you can judge exactly when the weighted end goes into the product. Then you just record how much tape you have reeled out. In 6 months we were passe for Mobil Oil was installing an automated gauging system using fiber optics wiring and sensors. It would be centeralized at the main office via a computer. But for now we had to do it. It was hot work and you had to look out for snakes, spiders, bats, small cats and iguanas. |
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Paco was always on the lookout for iguanas. Did I say he liked them? That is an understatement ... he loved them. As you who have lived in Panama and the Old Canal Zone know, to go the distance, a person must work slower when out in the hot tropical sun. So, after we had gauge 3 tanks we decided to find some cool shade. We found a perfect spot under a mango tree. Paco took out his thermos and had a bit of coffee. Then he grabbed his newspaper, "El Siglo." That is what amazes a lot of tourist; almost all Panamanians love to read. There is the racing form, the editorial page, funnies,"Barrios de Trifulca" and the sports page. So, while Paco was reading I had taken a swig from my water bottle. There was hardly any breeze and the air lay heavy all around us. To avoid a mean burn, you avoided touching exposed metal in the sun. Today we could have fried some eggs on the hood of the truck. I was starting to doze when Paco says, "Senor, look there!" I opened my eyes and there were two of the largest gray iguanas sitting on the hood of the pickup. |
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A Typical Mango Tree |
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They seem to be resting for the little bag on their upper body was moving very easy. It would expand and then it would close down. They seem to be there for the taking. We both had machetes but one only kills an iguana just before cooking it. So, the machetes were put aside. I had a burlap sack and Paco had a bit of twine... about 3 feet long. The idea was to capture them quickly before they went into the tall grass. Once in the grass it would really be a job. Besides getting all cut up by the razor sharp edges of the tall grass, the iguanas would have the upper hand. On the hood they were in the open and we have a better chance at capturing them. But iguanas are known to move very fast when spooked. If we missed the first time the chase would really start in earnest. We decided that we would go after the larger of the two iguanas. We both figured it offered a larger target and maybe it was slower. So, we eased out of the truck for we had both left the doors open to catch any breeze at all. The plan was Paco would attack from the front and I would use the burlap sack to catch him if he turned around in my direction. |
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We had taken a few steps when the big iguana slowly turned his head in my direction. I don't know what it is about those prehistoric reptiles that can get the heart pumping. In addition, I asked myself, "What am I doing here?" Well, Paco made his move. He clamped down on the head right behind the front claws. I saw that he had the old gray iguana and now it was up to me to get the back portion. Well, the first pass I missed it and Paco was yelling something about, "Ahora, ahora... Now, Now!" So, in all the excitement we were now in the middle of of the dirt road with the iguana. It was whipping its tail. I had gotten a few mean welts but in the excitement I kept after it. Finally I got lucky and we had the big gray. The other one had scurried into the bush in a real big hurry. It would had ended there but about this time roars a jeep up the dirt gravel road. Paco and I have the gray iguana between us. The driver sees us and he stands up on his brakes throwing gravel stones every which way. After the dust settles Paco is yelling at Miguel the driver of the jeep that he almost killed us and where did he get his driver's license. |
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So after everything settled down we prepared the Iguana for transport. Iguanas have long nails. So, Paco securely tied up the large gray iguana using its long nails and a bit of twine. After that we both settled down to gauging the remaining tanks. By mid afternoon we were done and we went back to the big house. That is what everybody called the office on the tank farm. I picked a sack of beautiful mangos and I was good to go.
Of course, Paco asked if I wanted to take the iguana home for supper. I told Paco I would pass on his great offer but he was welcome to it. I had plenty of mangos and after rolling around in the middle of the road with the iguana I had lost my appetite for the big gray iguana.
Paco with a smile ear to ear then said, "Muchas gracias amigo but you don't know what you are missing... iguana is like chicken and so delicious!" I replied, "I Know... I know." But you go ahead and enjoy it with your family."
So ends the saga of the chase and capture of a big, big gray iguana on the Arrijan Tank Farm. A memory that will last forever... |
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If you don't know where you are going any road will take you there. |
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