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Biosphere Expeditions
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1-week projects 
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NEW PROJECT
Amazonian plethora: biodiversity monitoring of jaguars, pumas, primates and other flagship species of the Peruvian Amazon.
Price/dates/status
This wildlife volunteer expedition will take you to a remote biodiversity hotspot of the upper Amazon rainforest. As part of a small international team, you will experience living and working in the jungle together with local biologists on an important wildlife survey concentrating on cats, primates and other flagship species of the Amazon to aid community conservation efforts and the development of sustainable management strategies. Based at a comfortable jungle lodge in a remote part of the forest, you will be working on foot on the largest trail grid in the entire Amazon and in canoes on natural waterways through the jungle, recording species, setting camera traps, creating databases, etc. All this as an integral part of a wildlife volunteer conservation project that will preserve an intact landscape of forest for further multidisciplinary research projects.
DetailsThis wildlife volunteer project will enhance the conservation activities at the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Regional Conservation Area. Primates, cats and other flagship species, which are key indicators of the health of the forest, will be monitored using the largest trail grid in the entire Amazon and natural waterways, at the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Centre. Data gathered by the project will contribute towards effective wildlife management in the most biodiverse part of the western Amazon. It will also form the basis of a sustained conservation programme of species that have been removed from an important part of their original distribution areas, such as big primates and terrestrial cat predators. Aims & objectives (1) To determine patterns of abundance and density of cat, primate and other flagship species at the Tahuayo River.(2) To monitor long-term the cat, primate and other flagship species populations in the Tahuayo River area to provide a good set of data to guide the area’s wildlife management. (3) To elucidate primate and cat population dynamics. (4) To asses the impact of human activities on primate and feline populations in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Regional Conservation Area (TTCRCA). (5) To initiate a conservation project that will preserve an intact landscape of forest for further multidisciplinary research projects. Background Since the Amazon was first explored scientifically, naturalists have been astounded by its diversity of plants and animals, with the western Amazon boasting the area’s highest biodiversity. The Amazon harbours up to 300 species of trees in a single hectare (2.5 acres) as well as hundreds of species of shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants and ferns. The Amazon supports over 2000 species of birds, almost a quarter of the world´s total, and, around 300 species of mammals.This project will be based at the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Regional Conservation Area (TTCRCA). Previous studies suggest that this area has the greatest mammal diversity and particularly the greatest primate diversity in the entire Amazon. The conservation activities performed by the communities of the upper Tahuayo River have had an important influence on the protection of the area. Logging, hunting and fishing activities were identified as serious threats and in the early 1980s a control system to prohibit the extraction of natural resources was introduced. Ten years later, in 1991, the Regional Government of Loreto declared the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Reserve and the high primate diversity was a factor in its creation. In 2007 the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Reserve changed its category to Area de Conservacion Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo. Previous work on the trail grid at the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Centre suggests that there may be two species of titi monkeys (one so far unknown), two species of saki monkeys (one so far unknown), two species of squirrel monkeys (one so far unknown) and two species of night monkeys (one or both so far unknown). Much work has already been done by the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Centre, but there is still a big gap of information that needs to be filled by scientific work, especially as regards primates and cats. A word on mosquitoes: Our study site and base are on one of the Amazon’s “blackwater” river systems. Chemically, blackwater rivers are very low in dissolved minerals and often have no measurable water hardness. The very acidic, almost sterile water, with a pH between 3.5-6, keeps parasite, bacterial and mosquito populations to a minimum. For this reason, blackwater rivers are considered some of the cleanest natural waters in the world, most often compared to "slightly contaminated distilled water." Blackwater river systems are of course not free of mosquitoes and they will be around and may be bothersome, so come prepared with repellant, but you will not be “eaten alive” or whatever other wild exaggerations you may have heard. Study species The rainforest is home to a huge array of animal and bird species and we may encounter the following species:Primary study species: Primates: Red uakari monkey Black spider monkey Common woolly monkey Red howler monkey Brown capuchin monkey White-fronted capuchin Monk saki monkey Squirrel monkey Red titi monkey Night monkey Saddleback tamarind Mustached tamarind Pygmy marmoset Cats: Jaguar Puma Ocelot Margay Birds: Cocoi heron, capped heron, white-throated toucan, channel-billed toucan, blue and yellow macaw, scarlet macaw, mealy parrot, blue-headed parrot, ringed kingfisher, Amazon kingfisher, green kingfisher, green and rufous kingfisher, American pygmy kingfisher, black-collared hawk, slate-coloured hawk. Other species present include: During research activities we may also see or documents signs of tapir, collared peccary, red brocket deer, tamandua, South American coati, armadillo, tayra, jaguarundi, Spix´s guan, harpy eagle and others. Typical day You will rise with the sun for an early breakfast and then conduct at least one survey during the morning, either on foot, or using the canoes, or setting or checking camera or track traps. Additional afternoon tasks can be undertaken by those willing to do more, but afternoons and evenings are generally rest, recovery or data entry time. A cook will prepare our meals at base camp where you will return to eat, rest and have a shower.Research area Peru is located on the Pacific coast of South America and is the third largest country on the continent. Two-thirds of Peruvian territory is located within the Amazon basin. The expedition base camp is within the Loreto Department, which boasts the second largest protected area, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (over two million hectares) and also the first Community Regional Conservation Area of the country, the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Community Regional Conservation Area (TTCRCA) of 421,000 hectares.Biologists refer to the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo area as the “green paradise” of the Amazon forest. Located south of Iquitos, just off of the main Amazon river, the reserve encompasses areas around the Tamshiyacu and Tahuayo rivers eastward towards the border with Brazil, The reserve is currently adding a million acres of undisturbed forest onto its boundary, which will then include land all the way to the border with Brazil. In terms of biological diversity, the research area is amongst the richest in the world and the TTCRCA harbours many species that exist nowhere else. The reserve’s mammal diversity has been shown to be the greatest of any region in the Amazon, and the number of primate species is the highest of any protected area or reserve in the world. The area also harbours 240 species of fishes that inhabit rivers and lakes, 550 species of birds, such as the harpy eagle and razor-billed curassow. 87 non-flying mammal species have been recorded, amongst them the Amazon manatee, pink river dolphin, giant river otter, and jaguar. At least 14 species of primates have been recorded, including an important population of the red uakari monkey. It is also an area of great plant diversity. Partners For this expedition, Biosphere Expeditions is partnered with Amazonia Expeditions and the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Center. Through our expedition base at the Tahuayo River we are also involved with the local community, creating jobs for local people, providing health care, improving the educational services and building capacity through training & creating assets. Swarovski Optik and Motorola also support this expedition.
Maps
Pictures
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Press
Feedback
"Biosphere Expeditions provides a unique and valuable opportunity to monitor different taxa of wildlife including primates, birds and our endangered species of felines such as jaguar, puma, ocelot and margay through transect census, camera traps deployment and more, all of this at the Tahuayo River basin, one of the richest areas in the Amazon in terms of diversity of species. I'm very excited about this collaboration as it will enable me to perform many research and conservation activities, which would be impossible without the help from Biosphere Expeditions and its teams of volunteers."
"Biosphere Expeditions makes research and conservation projects a reality in countries where funding for such projects is hard to obtain. Our research in the Amazon rainforest of Peru is no exception. Without Biosphere there would be no chance of organising such a large scale worthwhile research project."
"My name is Aldo Ramirez Mejia. I am 21 years old and from the local community at Lake Sandoval. While I finish my studies in Puerto Maldonado, I work with the Tambopata Macaw Project studying macaws and claylicks, which is supported by Biosphere Expeditions. Traditionally, my family has fished, farmed and hunted, but thanks to Biosphere Expeditions and its ecotourism and conservation opportunities, I have been able to dedicate my time to my interest with the local wildlife with which I grew up, rather than hunting it. Thank you very much."
“Just a big thank you to everyone involved in making this the trip of a lifetime.”
“The expedition has been among the greatest experiences of my life.”
“I enjoyed the expedition immensely. This place is truly a paradise and I hope all our assistance will help to preserve this habitat. Thanks for a very memorable trip!”
“I spent a wonderful time here in the rainforest and I’m so thankful to everybody who helped to make it so perfect! Thank you!”
“An excellent trip, which exceeded all expectations.”
“Thank you very much for this amazing experience. I will absolutely come on another expedition with Biosphere Expeditions.”
“A wonderful time, truly pleasurable company and the experience of a lifetime in combination with a worthwhile cause.”
“I really liked the diversity of surveys that we could work on and the freedom to choose our daily activities. It was incredible to be able to go out on surveys one-on-one with a local guide.”
“This expedition was absolutely amazing….the scientists and staff were really passionate about the expedition.”
“I feel it was a professional, safe, well-organised expedition with top leader, scientists and accommodation. The place is amazing.”
“Another excellent expedition. A great experience.”
“A great expedition. I really feel I’ve learnt a lot in the last two weeks and had the chance to experience the beauty and wildlife of the rainforest. Thank you to everyone involved.”
“A great expedition which was well organised……had a fantastic time. Thanks to all.”
BriefingThe expedition briefing contains very detailed information on this expedition, including instructions on how to get to the assembly point, what you will be doing whilst on expedition and who your expedition leader and scientists will be. You can access briefings via the Download Centre.
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