Trailblazers in the Amazon: meet Wilderness International’s first female scholars

For our scholarship program, we sought passionate Peruvian students with a deep commitment to field research and nature conservation within relevant disciplines like biology, botany, and veterinary medicine. After an extensive selection process, Danae and Xiomara were chosen to work directly alongside experienced field scientists deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Here is their journey, told in their own words:

The herpetology surveys added a whole new layer of challenge, as they took place entirely at night under torchlight. Spotting creatures in the dim canopy or leaf litter, carefully capturing them, and recording biometric data alongside environmental parameters required total focus. Over the weeks, I worked tirelessly to hone and perfect these techniques.

During our night surveys, we encountered fascinating species, including the Amazonian mushroom-tongued salamander (Bolitoglossa altamazonica), poison dart frogs (Ameerega simulans), and rain-loving glass frogs (Nymphargus pluvialis). We also came face-to-face with impressive reptiles like the South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta), Enyalioides palpebralis, and the venomous bushmaster pit viper (Bothrops oligolepis). Observing bird and bat monitoring was equally rewarding—learning everything from mist-netting techniques to managing complex field data. I also helped install and retrieve camera traps to track elusive mammal populations.

This expedition taught me just how challenging, yet fascinating, nature can be. I know that I am up to the challenges that come with conducting research in the rainforest. The new skills and knowledge I 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.

I would like to thank Wilderness International and all the donors for giving me the opportunity to take part in this expedition! A big 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.

Every single day brought a new adventure and an incredible learning curve. I deployed camera traps to monitor elusive wildlife, set up mist nets to survey bats and birds, and practiced bird banding under the expert guidance of Chris Ketola. Beyond expanding my technical skillset, this hands-on work deepened my reverence for nature, teaching me the vital importance of handling every creature with utmost care.

Living and researching at the station also sparked immense personal growth. Working alongside an international team of volunteers meant navigating daily tasks in English—a hurdle that quickly turned into a rewarding opportunity to sharpen my language skills and collaborate across cultures.

Throughout my time in the jungle, a famous line by Antoine Lavoisier kept echoing in my mind: "In nature, nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." Standing in the cloud forest, I realized that this truth applies not only to ecosystems, but to us as emerging scientists. We don't just study conservation—we are transformed by it.