Woman with backpack gazes upward through dense green foliage in a forest. Woman with brown hair wearing a khaki shirt and backpack gazing upward in a lush green forest.

With Hannah Emde at Secret Forest Manu

On an expedition with Wilderness International
To the Secret Forest Manu

Putting our hearts and souls into it – for species conservation in Manu

As a vet, conservationist and TV presenter, Hannah Emde is passionately committed to the conservation of global ecosystems. In April 2026, she accompanied us to our new conservation area, the Secret Forest Manu, to get to know our organisation and to describe, for and with us, the colourful facets of this ecosystem and its need for protection.
The ongoing work of the Wilderness International team is truly impressive. It goes a great deal towards helping us to better understand and protect this unique ecosystem, and, in close collaboration with the local community, is creating an important wildlife corridor.
Hannah Emde Veterinarian, wildlife conservationist & TV presenter

From the coral snake to the bullet ant 

On an expedition to one of the most biodiverse places on Earth
Hannah has a wealth of experience with expeditions to the tropics. She loves the rainforest, and in our new conservation area in Manu she is full of enthusiasm and explores the area with a sparkle in her eyes. She takes plenty of time to get to know the team’s work and the very personal stories behind it. Yet some encounters and tasks take even Hannah, an expert in her field, out of her comfort zone. The result is a deeply moving six-part series on YouTube.
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About Wilderness International

The foundation, which has offices in Peru, Canada and Germany, acquires wilderness areas in a legally secure manner and protects them for the long term. These acquisitions are funded by donations, which ensure the long-term protection of the areas and enable environmental education projects and research into carbon sequestration and biodiversity. 
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A large diverse group of people pose together on a grassy lawn, smiling and waving with trees and tropical plants in the background.

Every square metre counts

Every euro you donate protects one square metre of rainforest – forever! Immediately after you make your donation, you’ll receive an email containing a link to a personalised certificate detailing the specific area of wilderness you’ve protected – complete with exact geographical coordinates.
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Wilderness International conservation certificate for Toni Tropenwind featuring Amazonian rainforest, bird, and tree images from Peru.

Impressions from Hannah’s expedition

In our protected areas, Hannah accompanied our researchers and forest guardians as they went about their work and spoke to members of the local Indigenous community, the Shintuya. And, of course, it wasn’t long before she had some impressive encounters with wildlife...
Two people in outdoor gear exploring dense jungle forest, looking upward into the canopy.
Even during the day, there’s plenty to discover in the rainforest – especially when you’re out and about with an expert like Dr Chris Kirkby.
Brown monkey perched on tree branch surrounded by lush green foliage, gazing upward
A group of howler monkeys crossed our team’s path. They are among the loudest mammals in the rainforest – their calls can be heard for kilometres.
Two wildlife educators in khaki uniforms present a snake during a forest demonstration.
Our research team, which includes Head Field Research Coordinator Chris Ketola, is studying biodiversity in our protected areas in order to draw conclusions about the health of the ecosystem.
Two jaguars walking across muddy riverbank terrain with sparse vegetation and fallen branches in wildlife habitat.
The presence of apex predators such as these jaguars is an important indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
Two researchers wearing headlamps examine bat specimens at a table in a nighttime jungle setting.
Together with Keyko Saravia, Hannah is studying the bird population in our new nature reserve.
Researcher wearing headlamp observes brown frog clinging to wet green leaf at night
At night, the rainforest becomes a completely different world, and many of its inhabitants only come into view then – if you look closely.
Hiker standing in lush rainforest surrounded by massive tree trunks and dense green vegetation
A single giant tree in the primeval forest is home to countless species of plants and animals. It is a habitat in its own right, and is indispensable to the health of the forest.
Four climbers wearing helmets rappel down a tall tree trunk surrounded by dense green jungle foliage.
To find out more about life in the treetops, mammalogist Nadine Holmes is working with Hannah at dizzying heights to analyse the footage from our wildlife cameras.
Black lemur climbing on a moss-covered tree branch in dense rainforest surrounded by lush green vegetation.
This is the only way we can find out more about the rare sakis, which so far we have only been able to spot in the Secret Forest Manu.
Indigenous woman and visitor examine photographs together in a green exhibition space with cultural materials displayed.
The indigenous Shintuya people have lived in the Manu region for a long time and are trying to protect the forest from destruction caused by oil and gas development.
Aerial view of an illegal gold mining operation in rainforest with muddy brown water, excavators, and cleared land.
Illegal gold mines like this one are becoming an increasingly common sight on the region’s rivers. This makes it all the more important that we protect the surrounding areas.

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