First scholarship holders in Peru

We were able to offer this unique opportunity to Xiomara and Danae, our first Peruvian scholarship holders. The environmental engineer from Arequipa and the veterinarian from Lima applied to us for a four-week research scholarship, with which we want to support locals in researching the flora and fauna of their homeland, passing on knowledge and contributing to nature conservation.

For our scholarship, we were looking for Peruvians with a passion for nature conservation and research and a suitable field of study (biology, botany, etc.). After a lengthy selection process, we chose Xiomara and Danae, who now had the opportunity to work with researchers in the heart of the Amazon region.

They tell us what they experienced themselves: 

From the moment my boots touched the ground in Cusco, I knew I was in for a time full of educational experiences, physical challenges and adventure. We started with a sweaty walk along the Otorongo trail, but we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the cloud forest. These were my first impressions of our expedition.

We had the opportunity to accompany the researchers as they observed mammals, reptiles, amphibians, bats and birds - depending on our personal and professional interests. Even before the expedition, I had set myself the goal of getting to know the most common field research methods for monitoring and studying wild animals in their natural habitat. My personal highlight was the mammal transects!

For transects during the day, we set off at 6 a.m., sometimes even earlier. If we wanted to observe nocturnal animals, we set off at 7 pm. We moved quietly and as silently as possible, and had to keep our eyes and ears open at all times and everywhere so as not to miss the animals or their tracks. In this way, we spotted capuchin monkeys, yellow-tailed woolly monkeys, peccaries, jaguars, olingos, some rodents and many other species. Each sighting triggered a new level of emotion and amazement that made us pause for a few moments to enjoy this incredible nature. Then we resumed our work and tried to collect the essential data for our research (species, size, number of individuals, etc.).

Another outstanding experience was the herpetological transects, which presented a different level of complexity as they only took place at night and equipped with flashlights. The challenge was to recognize the animals in the dim light, hold them for a moment and record their biometric data, the characteristics of their environment, the species, etc. Over the weeks, I worked hard to learn and perfect all the methods.  

During the transects we were lucky enough to encounter amphibians such as the mushroom tongue salamander (Bolitoglossa altamazonica), tree climbing frogs (Ameerega simulans) and the so-called glass frog (Nymphargus pluvialis), as well as impressive reptiles such as the South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta), Enyalioides palpebralis and American lance adders (Bothrops oligolepis). I also learned a lot from observing birds and bats, from how to use the nets to the complexity and variety of data to be collected for each individual. I also helped install camera traps to record mammals and analyze the recordings.

This expedition has taught me how challenging, but also fascinating, nature can be. I now know that I am up to the challenges that come with research work in the rainforest! The new skills and knowledge I have learned about the local fauna will undoubtedly help me to continue to contribute to the conservation of my country's wildlife and support similar research projects.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Wilderness International and all the donors for the opportunity to take part in this expedition! Big thanks also to the Fauna Forever team, especially Chris Ketola, as they were a great help and a real role model during the whole expedition!"

My fellowship in Soqtapata was a life-changing experience that divides my professional life into a "before" and an "after". At only 25 years old, I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in field research in the Peruvian rainforest, studying a variety of species, from mammals to birds and amphibians.

Every day was a new adventure and I learned an incredible amount of new things! I set camera traps to record wildlife, set nets to survey bats and birds, and took part in bird ringing under the guidance of Chris Ketola. Not only have I been able to expand my technical knowledge, but I have also learned the importance of treating every living creature with care and respect. I also gained a wealth of knowledge about the biodiversity of the Amazon region! At the research station, I also had the opportunity to improve my English as I lived and worked with international volunteers on a daily basis. What started as a communication challenge turned into a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth.

During my stay in the rainforest, I couldn't get a sentence by Lavoisier out of my head: "In nature, nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed". I realized that this transformation applied not only to the ecosystems we were studying, but also to ourselves as researchers and conservationists-in-training. 

I would like to give future scholarship holders a few things to remember: be prepared for unexpected challenges. I couldn't avoid falling in the slippery mud of the narrow rainforest paths. But you shouldn't let that discourage you - quite the opposite! Looking back, they are some of my most precious and fun memories of my time in the rainforest. 

To Wilderness International and all donors: Your support goes far beyond the protection of ecosystems. By offering this unique opportunity to young Peruvians like me, you are educating future guardians of the Peruvian rainforest. Thanks to you, a new generation is growing up that recognizes the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Dear donors, your support has been instrumental in making this expedition a reality and enabling me to take part. I would like to thank you for that!