“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot do it for themselves.” Jane Gooddall
Over the past 9 years, we have been privileged to help countless animals in Bolivia. Here are the past completed milestones. Many thanks to all of our supporters!
We helped fund a nursery enclosure for young howler monkey orphans.
2019
#SoSBolivia – La Chiquitania
Terrible, out-of-control slash-and-burn ravaged in La Chiquitania in the east of Bolivia in 2019.
With this awareness campaign (in German only), we reported on it & were able to send donations to the disaster area.
2018
Rays for Bolivia
We wanted to fundraise a mobile X-ray machine, but could not reach the targeted amount. But Senda Verde got the desired device sponsored by the manufacturer – what a miracle!
With our donation we were able to purchase 2 laser devices for the clinic. The treatment significantly supports wound healing, post-ops and various skin problems.
The construction of a large aviary at Senda Verde Wildlife Refuge was our very first fundraising project.
We helped to give abused Amazon parrots a new home and the chance to finally learn to fly!
Our promise
We only support organizations and people that we know personally and can make sure that our donation will is used sustainably.
Every donation goes in full to the chosen project. Animalma finances its costs and any project expenses through association-related donations.
Our heart projects
The wildlife refuge Senda Verde (“The green path”) in Bolivia is more than just a project – it is family! A wild family, where victims of the illegal wildlife trade find a new home and active educational work about this problem is carried out.
Through several volunteer assignments on site, we know this very special spot on earth with its inhabitants and founders personally.
We passionately help them to realize new building projects and to spread their message:
Wild animals are not pets. Wild animals belong into the wild. And it is precisely these habitats that need to be protected.
We fulfill the last sentence of the above statement through various efforts in nature conservation.
Whether it is emergency aid in the case of forest fires, preventive measures in the form of training and protective materials – we help where we are needed. Bolivia’s protected areas and their rangers are particularly dear to our hearts.
Making a big difference in small steps – this is Animalma.
Dear Animalma-Family
I am so happy to finally write this newsletter for you. It is full of pictures of my Bolivia trip from February / March and will show you what your help has achieved on site and what we have made possible during this year. We also have a peek what the future holds and I have fantastic news! But let’s take it step by step…
La Senda Verde
Our heart project is now home to 950 animals – every week, new victims of wildlife trafficking arrive at the shelter. Tourism is only recuperating slowly, international visitors and volunteers are still scarce. All the more reason to be happy and proud, that I arrived with CHF 1’000.- in donations to help out our wildlife family and that another CHF 350.- came in during my stay. Vicky’s words “You’ve saved us” symbolize the harsh situation Senda Verde is still facing.
The enclosure for the howler monkeys is finished and the youngsters are enjoying this save space and especially its’ height. The caretakers are also very happy about the easier and safer management.
A huge THANK YOU to all the supporters of both campaigns; the following video is for you:
PS: For once the shelter was busy as a bee hive when I arrived in February. The famous photographer Nick Brandt and his massive crew were at Senda Verde for a whole month. The results are absolutely stunning and the big hope of Vicky and Marcelo to spread their message internationally and receive more support. You can check out his amazing work here.
My first conclusion: Our emergency fund is still vital – we keep on pushing it!
Help the animal shelter Senda Verde through the Corona crisis. The emergency fund helps to feed the over 950 wild animals of the refuge and gives them medical care.
Ranger style
I travelled on to visit the rangers of the Beni nature reserve.
They proudly showed me the petrol they’ve purchased thanks to our turtle adoption program from last year. We enabled them to patrol within their protected area for two whole months.
There was a small donation in my bag pack from another turtle donation, but I was wondering what we could acutally achieve with CHF 40.-… Do you know what? Quiet a lot – like fixing two motorbikes and treat the 7 horses of the camp El Porvenir against parasites and with vitamine B!
Conclusion #2: No donation is too small to spark a miracle!
Before I left, an anonymous birthday donation refilled the petrol reserve of the Beni rangers. There are no words which would truly do justice to describe the greatfulness of the people on-site. All I can say is, that I’m completely enchanted every time I can help directly, specifically and exactly when it is needed.
Thank you for your trust, thank you all for your valuable support!
In love with Madidi
I did it – I’ve realized my dream of going into the Bolivian Amazon! It was magical, adventurous, wild, enchanting… and unsettling.
I was standing under trees that are more than 300 years old – mighty beings full of wisdom, which put us humans back in our place and make our megalomania disappear for a moment. Seeing my first howler monkey in the wild made me tear up; on one hand out of pure happiness and humility. On the other hand because I knew during this whole trip that illegal gold mining further up the river is destroying all the stunning nature around me.
The Madidi National Park is the protected area with the highest biodiversity worldwide and it is getting destructed right now in front of our eyes out of greed for money. This disaster accompanied me during my whole stay in Bolivia and hit me hard. So I posted about it, I wrote to let the grief out, I gave a little interview within my beloved Madidi and I was able to push this topic through my journalist friend Edwin… but I honestly still stand puzzled in front of this massive disaster.
Thanks from the heart to everyone who donated to my guerilla campaign for the Madidi. Part of your help supported people fighting at the forefront, the rest is still waiting to hit the miners where it hurts the most.
I got to know the Madidi rangers during my trip and am pleased that we could bring back light and power to the checkpoint “El Bala”, thanks to another donation. Three new batteries put the existing solar panels back up and running and provide electricity for the rangers, making their vital work a whole lot easier for the next two years. Thank you Fabian!
So what’s the main conclusion of my journey?
Small good deeds can have a massive impact, especially when carried out right on the spot. As valuable as the monetary worth and their effects is the moral support for the animal rights activists and nature conservationists on the forefront receiving our help.
They are moved profoundly that there are people in faraway Switzerland caring about Bolivia and engaging in their mission. Knowing this gives them willpower, hope and new courage to continue their fight.
What happened since
Even though it was quiet around Animalma on the outside, a lot of stuff has happened since I’m back in Switzerland:
We sent another donation through the Emergency fund to Senda Verde and are continuously supporting the primary care of the wildlife shelter.
Thanks to the purchase of the firefighting equipment last year, we set the base to connect the company KPN with the Beni rangers. Together they organised a course in preventing & controling forest fires for the park rangers of different protected areas, voluntary firefighters & indigenous communities in June.
We’ve received a generous donation and already used part of it for more firefighting equipment for the rangers. The rest of the money is ready immediately, if the situation literally gets heated up and emergency relief to combat wildfires is needed. We are in the middle of the dry season in Bolivia and dry season means slash-and-burn season…
Become part of our story / Forecast
If you have read until this very line (sorry my newsletter always get longer as expected), you are probably feeling a certain fascination for Bolivia and / or Animalma’s work. Become part of our story…
Volunteer trip 2023
What started as a crazy idea back in 2020 and was on hold during Corona now becomes reality! From end of February until mid March I am organising the very first volunteer journey to Bolivia. Get to know Senda Verde, the rangers and the stunning Bolivian nature. Let yourself get charmed, inspired and maybe even healed… 😉
I will be your tourguide and together we are going to travel through my spirit home, help out in different projects and also just enjoy the South American vibe and adventure. If you want to join, write me an e-mail to info@animalma.org.
It’s Animalma’s birthday
Animalma turns 8 years old in October and I want to use this opportunity to celebrate with all of you and finally bring the Animalma-family together again. Location and program are still wide open, but please already book Saturday 29th of October 2022.
Ideas / Inputs needed
Of course you can actively support me and Animalma from Switzerland aswell. Right now I’m looking for:
Someone who loves research and would check a little list of laws so I can import the famous Madidi coffee and wild bee honey from Bolivia.
Creative hands crafting goods with donated materials to be sold before Christmas.
People who want to support the bday bash (location hint, behind the bar, with food or a stunt for everyone…)
Cool ideas for merchandising products. An association-bound donation is waiting for a while now to be put to use for sustainable goodies. Let me know your inputs in the comment section below or via info@animalma.org.
I always appreciate feedback and ideas from the Animalma family on how we can spread our message even further and increase our impact.
Nevertheless, I want to finish this newsletter with the insight sticking with me the most from my last journey:
In small steps we are making a big difference for the animals, people and nature on the ground. Thank you to each and every donor – you make all of this possible!
The green mountains of the Yungas region – down in the valley lays the refuge.The bridge leads into the shelter…Capi das CapybaraSilala, a heavily traumatised spider monkey, who could not have been integrated into the existing monkey troop so far.View towards the capuchin area…Without Carla, “Project Dron”…
Senda Verde from aboveCubaiScared by wildlife trafficking……but at least with a partner.Carla: veterinary, animal activist and wonderful friend.…would not have been finished so quickly and nicely!
The Emergency fund…
…is filling the food prep room……and feeds the animals of Senda Verde.
The Emergency fund was triggered by policital tensions in 2019 and just kept going feeding the 900+ animals of Senda Verde during the Corona crisis.
Animalma keeps fundraising for food supplies until tourism in Bolivia is back to normal.
