Amazonia
Manu, Peru.
I have been lucky enough to travel to Manu twice, the first time back when I was only 19 and the second, when I was 25, both trips supported by the incredible CREES foundation, who have been at the forefront of regenerative conservation for many years in the region, turning farmland back into rainforest. The first trip was a chance to dip my toe into one of the worlds most incredible ecosystems, exploring form the high Andean cloud forest down to the primary basin below. The short trip provided many photographic opportunities but I felt like the work was unfinished. The area around the MLC (Manu Learning Centre) holds an incredible story of rebound after consistent conservation effort and the planting of tens of thousands of native trees. The area reestablishing as a rainforest and over time also seeing the reemergence of key wildlife in the region.
There is nothing more thrilling and quantifying of an areas recovery, than finding the Apex predator, so 5 years on that’s what I set out to do. With help form the CREES foundation, the researchers and biologists at the MLC, I deployed camera traps in hopes of capturing images of the areas truly illusive wildlife. I spent nearly two months, walking the trails of the rainforest. Siting cameras and repairing them (from the constant pressure of the rainforest environment)! I slowly made progress, with Ocelots providing the first successful images. Over time I refined my locations and setups until finally, one spot hit the jackpot. My Camera capturing images of Jaguars, in the heart of the MLC reserve, proving the Apex predator was back, a true triumph of conservation effort.
You can find more about the CREES foundation here
