By Ashley Thompson

It's day 17.

Rio Negro - They have lived off of minnows and plants for three weeks but they feel it's time to research other camps. They decide to travel three miles to Cano Verde. Their hope is to have a big meal to start over and set themselves up for the rest of the challenge. The guys are not as thrilled to split their bounty 5 ways. No longer "Team Bromance", it is now "Team Butts and Nutts". Combining their resources and skills brings this new teams' PSR to 8.2.

Cano Verde - Chris and Luke venture into the savannah in search for food. They find mangoes (high in sugar, electrolytes and vitamin c) but have to climb to get them. Bromance over mangoes anyone? #surthrival. Now time for male bonding over yoga. "How often do you get to do naked yoga with another dude in Columbia?" ~ Chris. #broga. When the girls from Rio Negro arrive the guys offer up some roasted mangoes and slightly freak out about sharing. But they agree to let the girls stay if they help hunt for protein.

Roca Diablo - EJ and Jeff have only had barrel cactus and need protein ASAP. Once the plants are all gone, they'll starve... so they're on the move. To reach the lake they must walk 13 miles across the savannah where temps are over 100 degrees. Loaded with a self-made backpack made out of sticks, EJ sets out while Jeff says a prayer before their journey. 6 hours only takes them half way through the dessert they have thorns in their feet and they have run out of water. Since they don't make it all of the way they find a cave to sleep in for the night. While it provides shelter from the elements the bats inside carry fatal diseases including rabies and if their poop is inhaled it can cause respiratory illness.

Starting their second day of travel they run into Shane who is escaping his camp to find warmth, in both weather and emotional ways. Their brave journey brings their PSR to 7.6. Instead of taking them up on a trade, Shane invites himself on EJ and Jeff's trek to the piranha lake. EJ and Jeff don't want the drama so it's not clear what they decide for Shane.

El Bosque - Shane has separated from Alana and Danielle. The girls feel great about the separation and feel like they can thrive now but they have to find food without his help. Not a problem after Alana catches a (small) fish which are all hers since Danielle is a vegetarian. 200 yards away Shane has set up his own camp and is making tools for hunting. He decides to hunt at night to replenish his iron levels due to his anemia. The only thing he finds is a coral snake that slithers away but didn't bite him, at least.

Four days after the separation both groups are fine on their own. Until Shane wants to go fishing. The girls still have the fishing line and he wants in on it. Alana shuts him down. Shane feels that his choices are to tap out or to search for another group. Alana doesn't seem to understand the concept of bartering so Shane takes her not-so-subtle hint and hits the road. And then it rains. Shane leaving plummets this groups PSR to 6.8.

Photo credit: Discovery Channel