Real Life Jungle Cruise - Amazon 2018

Real Life Jungle Cruise

My friends and family looked at my photos and told me it looked like I was just at Disneyland. I go to Disneyland a lot, but this time I was in the real Peruvian Amazon! The Amazon Rainforest marks the final destination of a bittersweet journey to the end of my graduate school adventures and the beginning of my journey as a leader in conservation. After reading about "the little things that run the world", the importance of invertebrates, conservation of all biodiversity, and supporting zoos/aquariums has never been more important to me (Wilson, 1987).

Two of my favorite memories, in the real-life Amazon, happened on a riverboat. Welcome to Jurassic Park…is what I was saying in my head as we departed in the fog before sunrise to the local Claylick. This quiet morning was the first time I really had a chance to reflect on where I was and what I was doing, and for a moment I did not feel overwhelmed. The quiet morning quickly turned noisy when the parrots moved in like a cloud, and our class got to enjoy every second of it while indulging in a cup of coffee and eating passion fruit.

From day 1, I could not get enough of the sunsets. My favorite part about sunsets is that we are all under the same sun, and it sets everywhere. Sunsets were a perfect moment to bring all of us together. My favorite sunset in the Amazon happened in a riverboat on Lake Sandoval, just as we were about to be eaten alive by mosquitoes, the bats came swooping in, and the jungle we were observing during the day completely transformed into a different habitat right before our eyes. Thinking about the sound from the howler monkey’s resonating around Lake Sandoval still gives me goosebumps.



Banana hole!
The Amazon was full of surprises, I was not expecting to see monkeys and ocelot tracks.
Reflecting back at my journal entries I wrote about falling asleep to the sound of the jungle, and waking up prematurely to some very noisy roosters. I learned how to use new tools in the field such as mist nets and camera traps. I saw first-hand paca and agouti filling the same niches, just during different times of day. Exploring, I fell in a banana hole, got bit by assorted entomological life, I observed leaves growing on trees in a way I have never seen before, and I saw the biggest fungus I have ever seen in my life. Even watching Peru play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the local community was an experience.

A note on ecological footprints...
One impactful discussion we had in the field was how to reduce your ecological footprint. We learned ecological footprints are complicated. We also learned that we should eat in moderation and diversify our diets. “Recycling, it’s better than throwing it in the river!” Ursula shared with us about the importance of reduction. “It’s only 1 straw” said 8 billion people. Change begins with us, and sharing our knowledge with the world. 

"I will argue that every scrap of biological diversity is priceless, to be learned and cherished, and never to be surrendered without a struggle." -E.O. Wilson

Bird is the word
Macaws are one of the many threatened flagship species in the Amazon, and we were fortunate enough to see them in their natural habitat. Macaws are being captured for the pet trade, used for food, and their habitat and nesting grounds are being destroyed (Johnson & Brightsmith, 2003). The local people value their natural treasures, just in a different way than an outsider conservation biologist might. Community-based conservation is another complicated topic depending on how many stakeholders are involved.

You typically would not look for a marine biologist in the rainforest, but I have always wanted to diversify my knowledge. The Amazon Rainforest specifically was one of my inspirations that led me on my career path. It was a pleasure learning about avian ecology and conservation from the one and only Dr. Ursula Valdez. I am devoted to protecting all life on earth, not just marine biodiversity. Besides devoting an entire wall in my home to Peru, the kids and I also put up a hummingbird feeder in the backyard as a daily reminder of what we saw on our adventures. My son, C.J., made a PowerPoint presentation, “How to Save Sea Creatures”, while I was at work this past Saturday. He did this unprompted, on his own, and instead of playing video games. I didn't even know that he knew what PowerPoint was. He talks about human impacts on the ocean, sustainable seafood, and reducing energy consumption. He’s 9 years old, and plans on presenting this to his class. As I mentioned earlier, real change begins with us. 

All that glitters is not gold
My master plan is to increase conservation awareness to inspire people to be environmentally and globally conscious citizens. I would not be doing my job if I did not share my knowledge and pass the information along that I learned about gold-mining in South America. Prior to my adventure in the Amazon, this was a conservation topic that I did not know about. The solution to the problem...Boycott gold. Why? Gold-mining is harmful to the environment and to the local community. Death, destruction, and corruption are all words I now associate with gold. The use of mercury in one of the most ecologically, biodiverse hotspots in the world is just one variable in the gold-mining dilemma happening in Peru. Boycott gold and share our knowledge with others; that is what we can do even though we are geographically far removed from the local community.

Each of my EE’s have happened during a profound moment in my life, however this one happened and got me thinking about the future. Now is the time to implement real change. I have eaten tacos (Baja), prayed in forest monasteries (Thailand), and increased my love for all biodiversity (Peru). This trip was the conclusion to my eat, pray, love moments, and now onto the next adventure. 








References
Johnson, A., & Brightsmith, D. (2003). Helping local people value their natural treasures. PsittaScene, 15(3), 5-7.

Wilson, E.O. (1987). The little things that run the world (the importance and conservation of invertebrates). Conservation Biology, 1(4), 344-346).