Captions
Silky Anteater (photo by A. Santos)
Poison Dart frog (photo by A. Santos)
12 Foot Anaconda which we released back to the river
Pygmy Marmoset (photo by A. Santos)
We planned this trip through Amazonia Expeditions. The owner is an American biologist, who did years of research in the Amazon rainforest. His wife is from Peru and her family runs the office and lodge in Peru. In addition to their regular staff of guides and boat drivers, they hire local men and women from nearby villages, on a rotating basis. This keeps the communities in close ties with the lodges and serves to educate them about the importance of preserving the wildlife in the protected areas.
The Amazon was the source of wealth for the Rubber Barons of the past. Now the biggest threat is oil and gas development. When oil is found near a village, the government can sell the land to the oil company and force the natives to move elsewhere. The national government is not highly regarded, but things have improved since the 1980’s and 90’s when thousands of Peruvians were killed as the military tried to rid the country of the Shining Path Marxists and their supporters.
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