Amazon rainforest conservation project

Increasing economic development is putting a strain on the natural resources of the Peruvian Amazon. Unsustainable forms of farming, logging and tourism are on the rise, especially along the Tambopata river, an area renowned for its biodiversity. The river Piedras represents an adjacent river system, connecting Tambopata and Manu with little human presence compared to Tambopata. The area is generally recognised as being one of the best conserved remaining regions of the Amazon basin with over 60% of the department legally protected and with vast areas of unbroken canopy. As such it represents an ideal site for ecological studies with limited human influence.

Pumas and jaguars: Both of the two species of big cat that live in South America are found in Peru: the jaguar (Panthera onca) and the puma (Puma concolor). Both cats range over large territories and need large areas of undisturbed habitat in order to maintain viable populations. As humans increasingly encroach on their habitat, conflict results as most of the animals eaten by jaguar and puma are also hunted by humans. In many areas, over-hunting and poaching by humans has reduced these prey populations to very low numbers. The best places to study these big cats are in wilderness areas where neither they, nor the animals they prey upon, have been reduced in numbers, such as in the study site of the expedition.

Peccaries: Both the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) occur in the expedition study site. White-lipped peccaries and collared peccaries differ from each other in terms of size and social structure. Although all peccary species are highly social, the white-lipped peccary typically lives in larger herds than the collared peccary. In tropical rain forests, white-lipped peccaries usually occur in herds of 50 to 300 or more individuals, while collared peccaries usually occur in herds of 6 to 9 individuals. White-lipped peccary herds range over great areas and do not seem to be territorial, while collared peccary herds have smaller home ranges and defend territories. The large, nomadic herds of the white-lipped peccary are unique as no other forest-dwelling ungulate in the Neotropics occurs in such large groups and resemble in size the herds of many plains-dwelling ungulates. Both species of peccary are often observed at mineral licks where they are vulnerable to hunters, and of course their natural predators – jaguars and pumas. As such we hypothesise that pumas and jaguars will seek out mineral licks in order to find their preferred prey.

Mineral licks or colpas: Mineral licks, also called salt licks, clay licks or colpas, are sites where animals come to eat soil. Natural licks are known as mineral-rich places. Visiting licks is associated with costs for the animal such as energy needed to get to the lick, increased exposure to diseases due to increased contact between animals, as well as increased risk of predation and poaching. The benefits from visiting licks must outweigh these costs. While many studies have analyzed chemical composition of lick soils, relatively few studies have looked at the impact of lick distribution on home range size and movement patterns of mammals.

Please note that we have won multiple awards that shows our committment to conservation and the environment. Two of the most prominent awards are "Best Volunteering Organisation" at the 2006 Responsible Tourism Awards and higly commended for "Best for Conservation of Endangered Species" at the 2007 awards.

We are committed to running real wildlife conservation research expeditions to all corners of the Earth.  Our projects are not tours, photographic safaris or excursions but genuine research expeditions, promoting sustainable conservation and preservation of the planet's wildlife by forging alliances between scientists and the public. Our goal is to make, through our expedition work, an active contribution towards a sustainable biosphere. We believe in empowering ordinary people by placing them at the centre of scientific study and by actively involving them out in the field, where there is conservation work to be done.

We always work in close conjunction with local people and scientists and try our best to ensure that the fruits of our expedition work benefit our local helpers, their society and the environment they live in. Adventure, remote locations, different cultures and people are part and parcel of our expeditions, but also the knowledge that you will have played an active role in conserving part of our planet's biosphere. We exist for those who, through their hands-on work, want to make a difference to the survival of the particular species or habitat under investigation, and to the world at large. We invite everyone to come and join us out in the field, at the forefront of conservation, to work, learn, experience and take responsible guardianship of our biosphere.

To achieve this we will wherever possible:

collaborate with reputable scientists, research institutions and educational establishments (wherever possible from the host nation) who are experts in their field

collaborate with organisations and businesses which operate in an ethical and/or sustainable way

operate in an ethical and sustainable way, minimising negative impacts on local cultures, environments and economies

publish results and recommendations based on collaborative work together with those who helped gather data and draw conclusions.