President Bush went looking for biodiversity in a tropical rain forest Friday. What he found was a family of picnickers and a pair of lovers.
After defiantly refusing to sign the Earth Summit treaty on biological diversity - the only country not signing the agreement on protection of wildlife species - Bush went for a drive up a winding mountainside to the Tijuca National Park outside the capital.Normally, the rain forest is alive with brilliantly colored toucans, mischievous monkeys and slithering snakes.
But the sirens of the police escort and the noise of the lengthy presidential motorcade was apparently too much for the critters, said the guide who gave Bush and his wife, Barbara, a brief tour.
Absent wildlife, Bush walked over to the family of Antonio Balloco, who was enjoying a late lunch with nine of his family. The family took the unexpected visit in stride, offering Bush some beer, which he drank from a paper cup.
After getting detailed explanations - in halting English - about the family, Bush handed the boys tie clips with the presidential seal and the girls got presidential pins.
Bush then wandered toward a pair of young lovers seated at a bench. "Sorry to disturb your private time," said Bush, somewhat embarrassed when he realized his proffered handshake had interrupted the huddled couple.