In November 2025, Alanis Flavia Cruz Flores visited our protected areas in Peru through our scholarship program. She is sharing her experiences to mark this year's International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
From the rainforest to Bielefeld and back
Whenever people asked me as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same: I want to save animals. No more, no less. The great heroes of my childhood were Jane Goodall and Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, and I devoured every wildlife documentary I could find.
As I grew older and started planning my future, I decided that studying biology was the ideal path for me. However, after a few years of study in my home country of Peru, I realized that my university's academic focus did not quite align with my expectations.
While searching for alternatives, I discovered Bielefeld University in Germany, which offered a biology degree program specializing in animal behaviour. Without hesitation, I learned German, applied, and was accepted.
I completed my bachelor’s degree a few months ago and am currently studying for a master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Change. My plan was slowly taking shape, but I was still missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: practical experience working with wildlife. My long-term goal is to return to my home country, Peru, to get involved in local research and conservation, making the research grant from Wilderness International the perfect opportunity for me.
Initial experiences in fieldwork
Since I already had experience working with birds in Europe, I decided to spend more time with other teams during my stay, primarily joining the Mammal Research Team. I had never worked with mammals before, and it was a wonderful experience. Seeing the animals living freely in their natural habitat brought me so much joy and reminded me of why I chose this path: to ensure that wild animals can continue to live freely and peacefully in the forest.
Our days with the Mammal Research Team started very early. We usually set off around six in the morning to carry out transects, searching for mammals and their tracks, identifying them, and recording them in an app. At first, I found it quite difficult, but after under a week, I was able to recognize almost all the mammals we encountered right away. Over time, I also learned to interpret tracks and other signs of their presence, and my ethologist's instinct began to pick up on behavioural differences between species when they encountered us.
What is a transect?
A transect is a defined survey line used in ecological research. Scientists systematically record observations—such as plant or animal species and their abundance—along this line to compare environmental changes or differences across locations.
A transect is a defined survey line used in ecological research. Scientists systematically record observations—such as plant or animal species and their abundance—along this line to compare environmental changes or differences across locations.
Thanks to my previous tree-climbing experience in Germany, I was able to help set up camera traps higher in the canopy, and I learned how to tie various knots and install ground cameras as well. In the afternoons, I helped identify the species captured in the video footage, which allowed me to learn more about animals we couldn't observe during our morning transects.
During our nighttime transects, we also came across herpetofauna—the local amphibians and reptiles—and I learned to identify the most common species and handle them with care. Interacting with researchers from different countries was an incredibly enriching experience. Not only did I learn from their field experiences, but I also gained much more confidence in using English and working within an international team.
Of monkey pee and tapir tracks
Many moments from my time in the rainforest will stay with me for a long time, but a few are particularly vivid. One of the most unforgettable occurred during a transect survey when we came across a group of at least ten squirrel monkeys. They were incredibly close, began to surround us, and one of them even urinated on us! It was as unexpected as it was wonderful, and a vivid reminder of just how alive and unpredictable the rainforest is.
Another moment that stands out was discovering my very first tapir footprint. It was much larger than I had ever imagined, and knowing that the animal had walked there just a few hours earlier made me feel incredibly lucky. I also remember walking through the forest early in the morning, surrounded by the sounds of birds and insects, and realizing at that moment that this was exactly the kind of work I had been dreaming of since I was a child. Even during the nighttime transects, despite being tired, I was deeply grateful to experience the rainforest in such a direct and immersive way.
These moments, both the small ones and the extraordinary ones, reaffirmed my belief that this is the path I want to continue following in the future.
A glimpse into the future
Since returning to Germany, I've been thinking a great deal about going back to the Amazon as soon as possible to contribute to research and conservation on the ground. I would be thrilled to continue working on projects like this and further my career in this field.
Acknowledgements
A huge thank you goes to the ground team coordinators, who were always available to answer questions and patiently taught us everything they knew. I am deeply grateful to Wilderness International for giving me the opportunity to learn how to conduct research in the Amazon—a place I have dreamed of visiting since I was a child. That dream has now come true, and I hope this experience is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration.