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leopardusmdd OP t1_j4811jx wrote

Reply to comment by Mtw122 in I’m an ecologist protecting 7400 acres of Amazonian rainforest and preventing wildlife trafficking. AMA! by leopardusmdd

I've been in a few potentially life-threatening situations (all involving people, not animals). The jungle has been good to me.
We run into conflicts sometimes, not always with "illegal loggers" as most people would expect, but rather people trafficking wildlife. Those trafficking wild animals are often involved in other lucrative and illegal activities like the gun/drug trade, and are often armed/more dangerous and more used to intense situations. We work hand-in-hand with local governments to rescue animals, sometimes from situations where the police need to get involved and threats are made. Being a foreigner adds a layer of complexity that can be hard to manage. It is very helpful to have the almost 10-year experience with local people/communities that I do, as it adds a layer of respect and credibility to our work and also keeps us safe.

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Mtw122 t1_j482892 wrote

I actually assumed it would involve protecting animals. I’ve heard being a park ranger/security at the sanctuaries (don’t know what the actual job title is) in Africa are some one the most dangerous jobs in the world so I related it to that. People don’t like having their money threatened. The animal trade sucks, but that’s awesome work you are doing! Hope you continue to stay safe!

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ZehTorres t1_j487t85 wrote

What motivates the animal trafficking in that region?

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leopardusmdd OP t1_j48c6sf wrote

In our region it's very opportunistic. Those who go out deep into the forest to harvest timber, brazil nuts etc. spend months on end in the field. During that time it's most economical to collect everything you possibly can -- and that includes baby wild animals. These people are often hunting for bushmeat, but will specifically target mother animals (tapirs, spider monkeys etc) with young because they can eat the mother and take the baby to sell in Puerto Maldonado.
In other areas like Iquitos within the department of Loreto, wildlife trade and trafficking is more commercial. You can see wild animals and wildlife parts being sold in public markets. It's rampant. This is a whole other level of extraction, and why a lot of our seized animals come 2000 miles from Loreto to MDD to our center (like our baby jaguar Artemis).

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