Conduct research to your heart’s content, right in the heart of the Amazon!
For our scholarship, we were looking for Peruvian students with a passion for nature conservation and research, as well as those studying a relevant subject (biology, botany, etc.). Following an extensive selection process, we chose Xiomara and Danae, who were then given the opportunity to work alongside researchers in the heart of the Amazon region.
They tell us themselves about their experiences:
Danae’s account of her experience
From the moment my boots touched the ground in Cusco, I knew that a time full of educational experiences, physical challenges and adventures lay ahead of me. We set off on a gruelling trek along the Otorongo Trail, which, however, rewarded us 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’d set myself the goal of learning about the most common field research methods for monitoring and studying wildlife in their natural habitat. My personal highlight was the mammal transects!
Danae's photo album
Whether during the day or at night – transects were Danae’s favourite part!
Another outstanding experience was the herpetological transects, which presented a different level of complexity as they took place only at night and were carried out using torches. The challenge lay in spotting the animals in the dim light, holding them for a moment and recording their biometric data, the characteristics of their surroundings, the species, and so on. Over the course of 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-tongued 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 lancehead vipers (Bothrops oligolepis). I also learnt a great deal whilst observing birds and bats, from how to handle the nets right through to the complexity and diversity of the data to be recorded for each individual. I also helped to install camera traps to monitor mammals and to analyse the footage.
This expedition has taught me just how challenging, yet fascinating, nature can be. I now know that I am up to the challenges that come with conducting research in the rainforest! The new skills and knowledge I have gained about the local fauna will undoubtedly help me to continue contributing to the conservation of my country’s wildlife and to support similar research projects.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Wilderness International and all the donors for giving me the opportunity to take part in this expedition! A huge thank you also goes to the Fauna Forever team, especially Chris Ketola, as they were a great help and a real inspiration throughout the expedition!”
Xiomara’s account of her experience
During my time in the rainforest, one of Lavoisier’s quotes kept coming back to me: “In nature, nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.” I realised that this transformation applied not only to the ecosystems we were studying, but also to ourselves as trainee researchers and conservationists.
Xiomara's photo album
Xiomara’s advice for future scholarship recipients
I’d like to offer a few words of advice to future scholarship holders: Be prepared for unexpected challenges. I couldn’t avoid slipping and falling in the slippery mud on the narrow rainforest paths. But you shouldn’t let that put you off – quite the opposite! Looking back, these moments are among my most precious and funniest memories of my time in the rainforest.
To Wilderness International and all the donors: your support goes far beyond the protection of ecosystems. By offering young Peruvians like me this unique opportunity, you are training the future guardians of the Peruvian rainforest. Thanks to you, a new generation is growing up that recognises how important it is to preserve our natural heritage. Dear donors, your support has played a key role in making this expedition a reality and enabling me to take part. I’d like to thank you for that!
