At the end of August a group of 4 Italian scientists, Dr. Giovanni BOANO, Ottavio Janni, Dr. Roberto Sindaco, Dr. Alberto Venchi, from the City Museum of Natural History Carmagnola Turin together with Juan Carlos Chaparro, a herpetologist from the university of Cusco came to the area to help us make inventories of reptiles and birds in both La Esperanza and the neighbouring community of Corosha. This work is vital when creating a new reserve and will help form the justification for protecting the area.

During July Yunkawasi had great success in organising the bi-regional painting competition, funded by NPC and the Monkey Sanctuary Trust, this work has made a big impact in introducing environmental education and particularly monkeys to the school curriculum. Hundreds of children from about a dozen schools in Amazonas and San Martin turned out to participate in the painting competition. The winners will be chosen by an international panel of experts and announced later this year. The best pictures will also feature in a calendar that will be freely distributed to further publicise primate conservation.

A Pudu, the smallest deer in the world, was caught by a local taxi driver whilst trying to cross the highway. He thought it was a baby and he hoped to keep it till it grew so he could eat it. One of the villagers told him that it was probably a Pudu and convinced him to bring it to us. We immediately explained the mistake and took it back to the forest near where it was caught and released it. this is a very special species that is rarely seen, we felt very honoured to be able to help it in this way and pleased that the villagers are now beginning to realise that there is a need to protect wildlife.

On the same day another villager came to us with a Southern naked tailed armadillo that he was given by a truck driver coming from the lowland forest of San Martin. This is another rare species and we were able to release it the next day in the protected lands of IKAMA Peru near Moyobamba.