Catherine and I have arrived in Puerto Maldonado yesterday.
We came in on different flights, met at Wasai Lodge, had a quick shower and went straight into preparations. We met JJ, the owner of Piedras Biodiversitiy Station, in the afternoon and Aldo, who will be the second scientist on the expedition. JJ was involved in the project from the very beginning many years ago. Aldo was also part of the team and is actually a great success story of a local placement (see www.biosphere-expeditions.org/placements) turning into a guide and eventually a scientist, now coming full circle on the expedition. Well done Aldo!
First of all, it is sunny and warm (what a surprise! ;)), but in town it is not very humid right now. JJ said it gets chilly in the evening and, indeed, I took a jumper with me when we went shopping in the late afternoon. I did not have to use it, but JJ has told me that a friaje (see your dossier pages 11 and 16) occurred twice within the last couple of weeks, with temperatures dropping significantly. Please be prepared as per your dossier!
That’s it for now. I will be out of touch for the next couple of days, leaving as soon as Alan has arrived – and hopefully with him two more equipment boxes. I’ll be back on Saturday for an update and to meet team 1 on Sunday morning.
Update from our conservation holiday volunteering with jaguars, pumas, ocelots, primates, macaws and other species in the Peru Amazon jungle.
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