BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

A Rewarding Trip to Peru’s Amazon

If you are anything like us Wordly Girlies, you are likely interested in wildlife, conservation and cool, remote locations! One of the things we also always seek out when travelling is how we can support or give back to the communities or places we visit. During a recent trip to the Peruvian Amazon, both me (newbie Jenn here, hello!) and Keri experienced a taste of what it’s like to be a citizen scientist with Rainforest Expeditions.

Located in the remote rainforest along the Tambopata River, ecolodges Posadas Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas and the Tambopata Research Centre offer guests the ability to learn about and take part in wildlife conservation efforts through Wired Amazon projects designed and implemented by Rainforest Expeditions.

Here are 6 super cool projects where anyone can take part!

Camera Trap - Citizen Scientist in the Peruvian Amazon

Help set up camera traps at Refugio Amazonas to learn about species in the Amazon!

So, we did this exercise in the pouring rain but, hey, that’s the rainforest for you! One of the coolest things about setting up traps is that once home, besides being able to see the footage, volunteers can virtually assist with the tracking and identification program of jaguars and other species via the Amazon Cam Tambopata. Using over 100 camera traps, one can help note jaguar spot patterns from the comfort of home! Spot patterns are unique, much like fingerprints and through this project on Zooniverse, volunteers can choose from a list of identifiers to help them recognize different animals. The more inputs, the better.

Moths - Citizen Scientist in the Peruvian Amazon

Discover a new species and have it named after you! Taking a rainforest night walk with in-house biologist and insect expert, Aracely Yarasca, I was able to take part in the collection of tiger moths with the hopes I’d find and name a new species that could be named after me. Although I wasn’t successful in discovering a new tiger moth, the experience was incredible and I learned so much about insects (and just how many come alive at night!). So far, this program has successfully identified 22 new species over six years!
Take part in aerobotany! Though we both made the climb up the many, many stairs to reach the top of the 120-foot canopy tower and see incredible canopy views, we didn’t get the opportunity to try out Aerobotany. Using technology via mini-drones, images can be collected from the rainforest canopy for scientific analysis and volunteers can help classify these incredible images to learn about the rainforest from the top down, something that traditionally has been very hard to do!

4. Become an expert in Harpy Eagle behaviour! If you are bird obsessed like me, you have to check out the Harpy Cam where you can miraculously witness the development of the eagle chicks of Baawaja and Kee Wai (Baawaja: the male, meaning Tambopata and Kee Wai, the female, meaning harpy in Ese eja), that are being raised near Refugio Amazonas. Or, for the first time ever, view the newly launched, Crested Eagle Live Cam to catch a glimpse of this elusive and top rainforest apex predator!

Tambopata Research Center - Chuncho Clay lick - Macaws

5. Learn about Macaw conservation efforts through The Tambopata Macaw Project. Studying macaws since 1988, the Tambopata Research Centre helps to design artificial nests to encourage the breeding and conservation of endangered macaws in the area.

8 Primates Project - researchers - Peruvian Amazon

6. Train as a primatologist or help record bio-acoustic landscape recordings. Take part in exciting field work learning about the 8 different monkey species in the Peruvian Amazon. Learn current techniques from experts and assist by taking photos, videos and sounds, which can help contribute to the collection of important research.

Whether trees, insects, monkeys, birds or jaguars are your jam, I promise you’ll find more meaning in travel by volunteering or taking part in a citizen science project. Beyond exploring and discovering the biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon jungle, you can protect it and help spread awareness of the importance of the Amazonian tropical rainforest conservation and preservation.

If you have ever dreamed of visiting the Amazon and/or volunteering in the name of science, consider taking part in a Wired Amazon project to help protect the Amazon rainforest! Click HERE for more information about a trip to the Peruvian Amazon and HERE for more Peru itineraries.

In 2024, Finisterra proudly became a member of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) alongside 70+ members who fund and support projects aimed at protecting cultural and natural resources of the adventure tourism industry. Join us!