Dear Animalma family
“So how was it in Bolivia?” I’ve got asked many times over the past weeks. I’d love to answer with a simple “Awesome!”, but the honest answer is…
It was wonderful and devastating at the same time, with light and heavy moments…and as always, Bolivia was deeply inspiring.
It was wonderful to
Arrive at Senda Verde and see all those beautiful faces again – animal and human one’s of course.
Bring your donations directly and see their impact with every feeding time (thanks to the Emergency fund) and to observe the construction work for the nursery cage.
Get onto my mission “Matafuego” (Firefighting): I brought backpack pumps, fire extinguishers and breathing masks to the park rangers of the Beni station, thanks to my Swiss supporters. And I had the unique chance to accompany the rangers on their everyday work within their protected area – an unforgettable experience.
Another part of the donations enabled a veterinary from Senda Verde to go into the Otuquis national park. She was able to build a temporary cage for hurt animals as well as setting up much needed water stations throughout the burnt down areas.
Devastating because…
Due to the travel restrictions, there are nearly no volunteers at Senda Verde, who help with the care of the 900+ animals. It is the permanent workers facing this tough job every day for over 1.5 years now.
International tourism is still at a low point and the daily tours at the shelter are only booked on the weekends. Senda Verde is still far away from covering their daily costs through this income like they did before the pandemic.
Bolivia’s forests and their inhabitants are in a deep predicament; they are burnt down on a large scale to make space for the farming of cattle. Their ressources are extracted legally and illegaly – also in protected areas.
Also wildlife refuges, animal welfare activists and conservastionists in general face an extremely complex and difficult political situation. I felt fear and uncertainty, deep sorrow but also again and again hope and militancy.
And because of that, it was often light as a feather when…
I talked with old and new friends about Animalma, animal welfare, conservation and Bolivia in general. Feeling a deep connection while philosophizing about a better world for everyone.
The newly arrived baby Andean bear cuddled up in my lap, giving me all his trust when holding his afternoon nap on top of me.
One feels the travel spirit of limitless freedom, being completely alive with every fiber of your body and feeling right at home despite of the distance.
I walked with Ralph the “problem dog” through the lush green hills of the Yungas.
You fall into your bed tired but completely satisfied after a day in nature, caring for animals and doing research about the things that truly matter to you.
It was especially heavy to see that
Senda Verde is still in survival mode due to the lack of volunteers and tourists.
Additional wild animals arrive daily at the refuge – taken from nature by poachers, confused and at the end of their strength, being victims of illegal trafficking which destroys a little bit of nature’s balance with every animal taken from the wild.
Bolivia’s protected areas with their stunning biodiversity and indigenous people are a hassle to the government, as they just want to profit from these natural ressources. And that people who stand up against them have to be worried about their own safety.
But despite of the emotional rollercoaster, true inspiration prevails. I am inspired to
Keep pushing the Emergency fund for Senda Verde until tourism is back to normal. And to give the Howler campaign another last push to get the finishing touches inside the cage done.
Please share the following campaigns again over the next few weeks (“Christmas time is donation time!”):
#SOSSendaVerde – Emergency fund
Help the animal shelter Senda Verde through the Corona crisis. The emergency fund helps to feed the over 900 wild animals of the refuge.
The construcction of a nursery cage for the young Howler monkeys living at Senda Verde
Realise my idea of doing a yearly volunteer trip to Bolivia. Who is with me? The next adventure will be around February / March 2022. After that, the next chance to travel with me as your guide to Bolivia will be between January and March 2023. Details follow…
Set up a comprehensive campaign for the rangers and their protected areas and therefore doing the first step into nature conservation. Let’s take this first step today with a mini-campaign:
Until the end of November you can adopt turtles from the Beni region. To protect the eggs from being sold as food, the rangers have rescued them and put them safely on an artificial beach. Now the turtles are hatching and will be released back into the wild at the end of November. All the donations go to supporting the work of the park rangers and will have a real impact on the protection of the Beni region. Adopt your bunch of turtles today for only CHF 1.50 each:
Support the rangers doing their vital conservation work by adopting a turtle. The donations go directly to preserve the protected area Reserva de la Biosfera Estación Biologica del Beni.
To finish it up
I look back on three intense weeks and am so greatful for this time spent in my second home. I feel deeply connected to Bolivia, its’ nature, animals and people – they are part of me and I am committed to keep standing up for them. I want to use this moment to give:
A huge THANK YOU to each and every donor!
You make my conservation work possible,
you all are my heroes!
Because pictures say more than words, I leave you with a gallery full of my favourite moments of this journey. See for yourself how our help arrives – it is truly beautiful. And who knows, maybe it inspires you to join me on my next adventure. 😉
Enjoy the gallery, have a wonderful festive season and I hope to have you back here for the next newsletter!
Your Sarah