“What counts most in life are the helpers – and the helpers of the helpers”.
Project goal
In April and May 2025, Animalma is organising three two-day forest firefighting training courses for rangers and volunteer firefighters in northern Bolivia with the experts from @fire Switzerland and our local partner, the voluntary forest firefighters ‘Jaguares’.
The focus is on efficient tactics and the use of firefighting equipment, as well as topics such as crisis organisation, logistics and nutrition. The two weeks will also be used for a valuable knowledge exchange between the firefighters from Bolivia and Switzerland.
The @fire specialists are currently in the middle of developing the course content and schedule, while Animalma is focusing on the funding and overall organisation of the mission.
Three months after the launch of our fundraising campaign Fighting wildfires with knowledge, we have already received an impressive CHF 7’045.- in donations. This amount will enable us to cover the costs of the roughly 60 participants and the organisation on site, as well as the logistics and accommodation of the Swiss team.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the following donors for this significant milestone:
Nicolas Entrup
Jürg Stein
Christian Küpfer
Tanja Frei
Seifenkistenrennen Freienwil
All participants of the presentation 60+ in Oberentfelden
Fredi Keller
Raiffeisenbank Surbtal-Wehntal Genossenschaft
Andrea Spalinger
Helena Turienzo
Patrick Wigert
Alessio Gretz from the restaurant Weisser Wind in Freienwil
Christine Keller
Garage Louis Frey
Darleen Gloor
Daniel Müller with trigger it GmbH
all anonymous supporters
Next steps
Our next stopover target is CHF 9’000.- in donations to cover the catering for the experts during the two-week mission. Will you help us?
You can also support us by taking part in Animalma’s anniversary party on 8th of March 2025, with all funds raised going to this campaign.
The Final Stretch
The big final goal will be to finance the flights to Bolivia; first the @fire crew’s flights (CHF 8’500.-) and then Animalma’s (CHF 1’700.-).
All 6 people have offered to pay the travel costs to Bolivia themselves if the funding target is not reached. A wonderful gesture that emphasises the personal commitment of those involved in this project and deeply moves us at Animalma.
For the time being, we are sticking to the total funding amount of CHF 19’190.- and will continue to pursue this ambitious goal. Because from various past experiences, we believe in miracles and that together we can always achieve great things on a small scale.
The secret of life lies in seeking and finding the light. Albert Schweitzer
10 years Animalma
Dear Animalma family
Our organisation was founded 10 years ago today – a fantastic and somewhat crazy idea became a reality and an as yet unknown path opened up. I have to admit that my initial naivety about easily generating donations in Switzerland for Bolivia was quickly overtaken by reality. Fundraising is hard work, and so is ramping up a project like Animalma. And so this path has led me through ups and downs, but from the beginning until today I have always been accompanied by wonderful supporters, inspiring encounters come at just the right moment and all the small and big miracles that we have been able to achieve in Bolivia over the last 10 years give me the strength to keep going.
Without you, dear Animalma family, all this would have remained a dream. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support.
You are simply awesome and I celebrate every single one of you. ¡Muchissimas gracias!
In this very special anniversary newsletter, I will tell you about my last trip to Bolivia, what is currently happening in our country of assignment and what a wonderful milestone is coming up next year.
Bolivia trip 2024
Packed with my trekking equipment and around CHF 400 from the mini-campaign, I set off on a three-week trip to my second home country in July.
On the way to the jungle, I was able to meet the volunteer firefighters from Ixiamas at our last stop in civilisation. They are part of the Jaguares forest firefighters, whom we have been supporting with Animalma for two years. It was a great honour for me to meet this female-led group in person and present them with their shirts bearing the Animalma logo.
Inspired by this encounter and full of anticipation, we set off on our 10-day adventure in Madidi National Park. For two days, we hiked through the thicket with bag and baggage until we reached the Rio Madidi. We drifted down the river for six days with self-made fins and observed the wonderful flora and fauna of the Bolivian Amazon. Every evening we set up camp, lit a fire to cook and then philosophised for hours about nature and its threats, the challenges in Bolivia and listened to the rangers’ stories. Once off the tranquility of the river, we spent another two days on foot over rough jungle terrain, which pushed each of our group of six to their limits in one way or another.
I am happy to take you on our Madidi adventure via the following gallery…
What moved me the most was, on the one hand, this incredible peace that sets in far away from civilisation and also allows the head and heart to rest. We get back into a natural rhythm, get up with the sun and are so much happier when we only have what we really need. A cup of coffee becomes a luxury, a dip in the river feels like wellness and the choir of howler monkeys is the best concert ever.
& this feeling of wandering through an intact jungle, seeing its diversity and natural balance and sitting in deep reverence under a 400-year-old tree – simply indescribable… liberating, inspiring, deeply moving.
Back in civilisation…
…we made another stopover in Ixiamas and I took the opportunity to use some of our donations to buy a 1000 litre water tank for the firefighters of Ixiamas.
The joy was huge and this equipment is extremely important for the volunteer firefighters because it saves valuable time in the event of a fire.
I handed over the remaining donations to my friend and vet Carla, realising her dream of running her own campaign to help dogs and cats near nature reserves with parasite and vitamin treatments. & thus also protect wild animals from parasites. In two days, three vets treated over 200 animals with the help of volunteers. They topped it all off with educational lessons for children at the primary school in Ixiamas.
I am happy to share with you the touching impressions of this wonderful mission in the following video:
Once again, these two examples show how much we can achieve through Animalma in Bolivia. Thank you to Katrin, Fabian and an anonymous supporter for your donations – you have made these two miracles a reality.
Of course, I also visited the Senda Verde Wildlife Refuge on this trip. I am glad that they have a consistent and dedicated team looking after the 1000+ wild animals and that their educational work in the form of guided tours is very popular with the local population. I also particularly celebrate their wild bee project, the butterfly breeding and the fact that Senda Verde sensitises its visitors to the smallest and yet so essential creatures.
We continue to support Senda Verde with basic supplies through the emergency fund:
Help Senda Verde through the aftermath of the corona crisis (yes, it is still being felt in Bolivia!).
The emergency fund provides food and medical care for the more than 1000 animals at the reserve.
Bolivia today
Since my return, Bolivia has literally been in flames – it is one of the worst fire seasons in recent years. 100,000 square kilometres of forest and savannah have fallen victim to the flames; according to biologists, around 10 million vertebrates have died. These are numbers and effects that are beyond our imagination and deeply shock me.
That’s why I’ve spent the last few weeks providing emergency aid to the rangers and volunteer firefighters. A first aid delivery in the form of food and petrol for the necessary logistics went to the San Matias protected areas and the Noel Kempff Mercado in September.
At the beginning of October, I received another call for help from the Noel Kempff UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rangers and volunteers were faced with a 60-kilometre stretch of fire – the only solution was to use a skidder (a large forestry vehicle) to create firebreaks. Out of necessity, I wrote an email to all of you and am still overwhelmed: the CHF 1,000 for the required fuel came together within 24 hours!
We received so many donations that we were also able to support the San Matias reserve once again and are currently clarifying with the rangers how we will utilise the remaining CHF 1,750.
In a really dark moment for Bolivia and for me, you were once again the light that brought hope back to us. THANK YOU!
Thanks to recent rainfall, the situation has eased somewhat and the redemptive rainy season is due in November. What remains is irreparable damage to various ecosystems and species, the loss of the livelihoods of many indigenous people, anger and disappointment in the population towards the state and a government that actively promotes this slash-and-burn agriculture and whose ‘aid’ is pure farce.
To end this section with a glimmer of hope, I would like to share a story with you. It is written by Fabiola, a Bolivian woman living in Switzerland, who has accompanied me and Animalma for many years and who, inspired by my appeal for help, expresses her pain in the written word.
& here it is at last, the milestone that awaits us next year and will take Animalma to new shores!
In collaboration with the organisation @fire, which has been training firefighters in forest firefighting for many years and sends emergency personnel to crisis areas, we are organising three two-day training courses in Bolivia next spring for rangers from various nature reserves and for our volunteer forest firefighters Jaguares.
I am incredibly proud that I will be travelling to Bolivia in April 2025 with five specialists from Switzerland to implement this preventive and sustainable measure. There is still a lot to do before then: the course content is being developed by the experts, potential sponsors are being sought, the trip and logistics are being organised and, in particular, the funding needs to be secured.
That’s why I’m sharing with you the associated online campaign that marks the start of this wonderful endeavour:
Forest firefighting training for rangers and volunteer firefighters in Bolivia – with the specialists from @fire, supported by Animalma
Before we set off on this adventure in April, I hope to see you in person in March 2025. Because that’s when we’ll be celebrating 10 years of Animalma at our next anniversary party – better late than never! More information will follow in the next newsletter at the beginning of the year at the latest. Until then, I wish you a wonderful time and send you a heartfelt THANK YOU once again for all your support over the last 10 years, for accompanying us on this crazy and yet wonderful journey together.
Forest firefighting training for rangers and volunteer firefighters in Bolivia – with the specialists from @fire Switzerland, supported by Animalma
Summary
In close cooperation with the non-profit aid organisation @fire Switzerland, Animalma is conducting three training courses for rangers from various nature reserves and volunteer firefighters in Bolivia for the first time in April / May 2025.
Over the course of two days, participants will be taught tactical knowledge and the effective use of tools for fighting forest fires in theoretical lessons and practical exercises.
The course will be held at three locations – all adjacent to different nature reserves – in the north of Bolivia and will also include the advanced training of instructors for sustainable knowledge transfer on site (teach the teacher).
This training and further education is of central importance for the conservation of Bolivia’s highly endangered biodiversity and is to be carried out regularly over the next 5-10 years with the support of funding foundations and patrons.
The aim of this project is to finance the first realisation of this important and sustainable project in 2025. The funding amount of CHF 13,355 includes all preparations on site, cost coverage for the approximately 60 participants as well as travels and accommodation for the experts from Switzerland.
Organisation and implementation of three two-day courses for the basic training of rangers and volunteer firefighters in vegetation firefighting in April / May 2025.
To directly strengthen nature, animal and species conservation in Bolivia through this training by bringing fires under control more quickly and safely and implementing preventive measures.
Sub-objectives
Optimisation of the existing course according to the latest findings in effective vegetation firefighting thanks to the expertise of @fire Switzerland
The focus of the course is on the efficient use of available resources and possibilities on site and improves response time, safety and self-organisation in fire situations in and around nature reserves.
Two to three people per location are trained as instructors to ensure sustainable knowledge transfer and efficient crisis organisation.
Advice on the procurement of extinguishing and protection materials and, where possible, sponsoring / financing of equipment.
Evaluation and further development of the course content according to the findings during the first implementation and especially after the first year of application by the participants.
Offering the course over the next 5 – 10 years, possibly supplemented by sending @fire special forces to crisis areas.
The initial situation
Bolivia’s nature reserves, and therefore its biodiversity, are under severe pressure; agricultural zones are being continually expanded through deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture, and the climate crisis is clearly noticeable on the South American continent through prolonged periods of drought and short, low-yield rainy seasons.
Large-scale fires – such as here in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Noel Kempff Mercado in 2024 – are to be combated more effectively and contained/prevented by means of preventive measures.
The rangers in these valuable protected areas have extensive knowledge and many years of experience in their field of work, but are under political pressure. In addition, they often lack the basic equipment, logistics and organisation to counteract fires quickly and efficiently.
The ‘Jaguares’ volunteer forest firefighter initiative was launched two years ago by Marcos Uzquiano and currently has around 60 members from the civilian population. Thanks to the support of Animalma, they have a central warehouse with fire-fighting and protection materials and basic knowledge of how to use them. Marcos Uzquiano is currently the only trainer and coordinator in the event of a crisis.
The association @fire has been training its members in cross-regional forest and vegetation firefighting for over 10 years and deploys special forces to natural disasters worldwide. Animalma has been active in Bolivia for 10 years and has been supporting the rangers and volunteers with donations in kind, sending relief teams to crisis areas and providing accident insurance and basic training in firefighting since 2021.
Now the time has come to unite the shared passion of @fire, the Jaguares and Animalma in fighting forest fires and thus preserving our nature. With the extraordinary expertise of @fire, the network of Animalma and the commitment of the Jaguares, we can generate a real and sustainable impact in Bolivia; for the rangers and volunteer firefighters, for the nature reserves, for the Amazon, for biodiversity and for the future of us all.
The two-day course, which is held once each in Rurrenabaque, Ixiamas and San Borja, provides participants with theoretical lessons and practical exercises:
Effective means and tactics for fighting vegetation fires
Optimal use of available tools such as firefighting backpacks, extinguishing paddles, machetes, rakes and protective materials
First aid and evacuation of casualties
Operations management and crisis organisation
Further topics such as optimal nutrition, camp locations and radio communication during operations in fire zones
At the end of the first day of the course, the specialists prepare and conduct the second part of the training together with the future instructors.
The target group
The rangers of the nature reserves
Parque Nacional Madidi: from the snow-capped Andes to the tropical Amazon rainforest, it is home to one of the highest biodiversity levels in the world, covering 18,958 km2
Pilon Lajas: borders the Madidi National Park and protects 4,000 km2 of highland jungle in the Yungas region and its indigenous peoples in particular
Territorio Indigena y Parque Nacional Isiboro Sécure TIPNIS: is a national park and indigenous territory, its 13,721 km2 are at the centre of the conflict between expanding agriculture and the rights of Bolivia’s indigenous population
Reserva de biosfera Estación Biológica del Beni (EBB): is located in the department of the same name, Beni, and protects important water sources and wetlands over 1,350 km2 and plays a central role in the ecological balance of this region.
We expect 3 – 5 rangers per conservation area to take part in the training programme. 2 to 3 of them will be trained to become instructors.
Moreover, we have also invited rangers from the east of the country and hope to cover their long trips to and from the course with this campaign.
The organisation of voluntary forest fire fighters ‘Jaguares’ was founded on the initiative of nature conservation activist and ranger Marcos Uzquiano. The 60 or so members are spread across three locations:
Rurrenabaque / San Buenaventura: this is the headquarters of this volunteer organisation. They respond to fires around the Madidi Pilon Lajas protected areas.
Ixiamas: a dedicated group of 20 volunteer firefighters led by women on the eastern edge of the Madidi National Park
San Borja: centrally located in the Beni protected area, the volunteers from various villages support the rangers in monitoring fire hotspots and fighting wildfires
We expect 15 volunteers per location to take part in the training programme.
The participants’ travel to and from the course and their accommodation will be covered by this project. Costs for all 60 participants: CHF 6’045.-
The specialists from Switzerland analyse the existing training content, the needs and specific circumstances in Bolivia and define the learning objectives and a specially tailored course schedule based on the available resources and opportunities.
They provide their expertise and time free of charge for this essential preparation in the planning phase and for the course implementation on site. The value of this personal contribution amounts to CHF 6,125. Their travelling expenses and accommodation in Bolivia are covered.
Costs for the deployment of the Swiss team: CHF 3’695.–
The voices – in Bolivia and Switzerland
Marcos Uzquiano organises the participants and provides the infrastructure at the training locations. He acts as a translator during the courses and supervises the entire programme. This important work and key role, without which this project would not be possible, is remunerated and is therefore included in the financing package.
Costs for his organisation and support: CHF 1’100.–
Sarah Fehr is the link between the Swiss team of experts and Bolivia during the preparations. She organises and manages the entire stay, provides support with translation and ensures the financing. She donates the entire preparation time to the project (value = CHF 900.-) – her travel expenses and accommodation are covered.
The budget 2024 / 2025
The total sum of CHF 13’355.- is made up of the following three main areas:
Financing the participants
Course participants incur costs for travelling to and from the training centre, their accommodation and meals during the course days. The coverage of these costs builds the basis to be able to realize the course.
Description
Quantity
Price in CHF / unit
Total in CHF
Outward and return journey per participant from the North
60
15.- / flat rate
900.-
Outward and return journey per participant from the East
8
275.- / flat rate
2’200.-
Accomodation (2 nights)
138
10.- / night
2’720.-
Catering (drinks)
150
1.50 / unit price
225.-
Total
6’045.-
Local organisation & support
Marcos Uzquiano takes care of participant registrations, provides the infrastructure at the training locations, acts as a translator during the courses and supervises the entire assignment.
Description
Quantity
Price in CHF / unit
Total in CHF
Ensuring participants & infrastructure
20
25.- / hour
500.-
Course support / translation
6
100.- / day
600.-
Total
1’100.-
Swiss specialist team
Daniel Aeschbach, Joel Schwendimann, Benjamin Altorfer and two more fire service specialists will be on site together with Sarah Fehr from Animalma. Their travelling expenses, accommodation and meals in Bolivia will be covered.
Description
Quantity
Price in CHF / unit
Total in CHF
International flights
5
3 flight sponsered by Airlink, only taxes apply 2 x 1’300.- / flight
2’945.-
Domestic transfer to course locations
5
150.- / flat rate
750.-
Accomodation
13
20.- / night
1’300.-
Total
4’995.-
The total amount of CHF 13’355.- includes 10% reserve and will be financed via online campaign on animalma.org and at-fire.ch. Any surplus funds will be used to procure materials for the firefighters on site.
‘Animalma, @fire and the Jaguares in Bolivia are grateful for any support to realise this important project and ensure the foundation for a sustainable exchange of knowledge in firefighting.’
Small things are responsible for big changes. – Paulo Coelho
So many gifts…
…in the form of a donation were received for Sarah’s birthday in March 2024, so that we were able to count an incredible CHF 1’285.- in the donation pot.
Many thanks to Anita, Patricia, Max and many supporters who prefer to remain anonymous.
Because we at Animalma wanted to increase the effect of this generosity and the joy of the voluntary forest fire fighters, we added unrestricted donations and were thus able to donate an impressive CHF 2’630.- to the Centro de formación de bomberos forestales voluntarios “Jaguares” (training centre for volunteer forest fire fighters “Jaguares”) project.
Thank you Darleen, Sina, Fabian and Simone for your trust.
The result
The generous help from Switzerland was used for the following fire protection and training materials:
3 firefighting backpacks with 20 litre capacity from Fireline
10 protective helmets from Portwest, resistant to high temperatures
2 tents & petrol for logistics within the fire areas
10 accident insurance policies for the volunteers
1 first aid kit
1 printer & writing materials
3 training courses
They will be of enormous importance in the upcoming and many other fire seasons. Once again, we are deeply touched by how we achieve great things on a small scale!
Below are a few pictures of the materials and impressions from two courses; one for the EBB rangers, one for the population and students of a small community within the protected area:
Many thanks on behalf of the Jaguar firefighters, Sarah and Animalma!
After “to love”, “to help” is the most beautiful verb in the world.
Like every year…
…Sarah is sponsoring her birthday to do something good – in Bolivia of course.
This year all gifts in form of donations will go again to a small but vital project: a centre at the edge of the Bolivian Amazon with materials to combat forest fires and capacitating voluntary firefighters. If fires or inundations occure within or nearby close nature protection areas (Madidi, Pilon Lajas, EBB), much needed help will be there quickly and efficiently.
All birthday donations will be used for the following materials:
Last year, the birthday donations went towards this project – which has already recruited 58 volunteer firefighters in the meantime and has also been given an official name:
Centro de formación de bomberos forestales voluntarios “Jaguares” (Training Center for Volunteer Forest Firefighters “Jaguares”).
This project is a private initiative by Marcos Uzquiano, who has been a park ranger and nature protection activist for many yeras. He has been awarded by the IUCN for his tireless efforts and has given half of the award money to his project. Sarah wants to support his idea and ensure that this project continues to grow.
Thank you so much for your support – every amount matters!
Nature conservation is a wide term – as wide are our efforts in this field. That is why this campaign contains various parts, which are presented next.
Our goal is to help quickly and flexibly in case of emergencies as well as setting up preventive meassures.
Fire prevention
Through the purpose of donation “Firefighting”, we help people and projects combating the yearly forest fires in Bolivia. Immediate emergency help mainly includes transportation, food and materials of all kinds for firefighting-crews and vets, while preventative meassures are implemented by capacitating volunteers and profesionals with courses and safety equipment.
Whatever and whenever – our help goes where it is needed the most.
Training professionals and volunteers and providing the necessary safety materials may make the difference between life and death – for humans and nature alike.
Our emergency aid sends firefighting-crews and vets into affected areas to provide first aid. We helped La Chiquitania in 2019, Otuquis in 2021 and Noel Kempff Mercado in 2022.
In 2021 we sent a team into the protected area Otuquis, where they cared for insured wildlife and built water points for the survivors.
Nature conservation
The general fund called “Nature conservation” raises funds for a variety of causes, which we bring right to the front thanks to our wide network in Bolivia.
The park rangers of protected areas as well as activists fighting illegal gold mining in the Amazon have a special place in our heart.
Our highlight in 2023: an accident and whole life insurance for the 27 park rangers working in the Madidi National Park.
More highlights from our conservation efforts are found in the blog further below.
Turtle Adoption
The turtle adoption program in the Beni area is also part of this campaign and helps the species survival of the yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and the rangers on-site.
You can simbolically adopt a river turtle for CHF 10.- and get an adoption certificate for yourself or as a meaningful gift for someone else.
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!
All pictures in this Newsletter have been taken by Noelia Chalfoun – She’s been working for Senda Verde for a few months and takes the most amazing portraits. Thank you Noelia!
Dearest Animalma-Family
As president of Animalma I want to wish you a wonderful 2022 this way and hope that all of you have started this year well.
I’m already in the finishing touches of planning my next trip to Bolivia. On the 4th of February I’ll be visiting my second home for five weeks. Prior to this I don’t want to miss my chance to show you our Animalma projects in this newsletter.
End of year = annual accounts
Accounting is not my favourite thing in the world. I’m all the more proud, when I can see all donation numbers clearly in our annual accounts.
These are my highlights; all of which have only been possible through your donations and support.
CHF 2’300.- have gone into the emergency account #SOSSendaVerde. These funds have helped with the daily food supply and primary care for our wildlife.
The new enclosure for the howler monkeys has finished construction at the end of 2021- thanks in part to the Animalma-Family, which has donated CHF 1’500 for this cause.
I’ll be able to supply pictures and videos of their new home after I return from Bolivia.
Our first step towards nature conservancy has been a success! CHF 2’600.- have been used at the following fronts:
CHF 500.- have been used to send Senda Verde’s Vet onto an emergency visit to the fire areas in Otuquis.
The group built an emergency enclosure for injured animals, and made sure there were plenty of wateringholes for the surviving animals- the most important immediate measures after the flaming hell they endured.
The Parkrangers from the reserve Beni now have basic firefighting equipment which we brought directly to them.
With the money from the Turtle-adoption we bought gas with which the rangers will be able to go on patrol through the reserve all through February. Costs: CHF 225.-
The club treasury has also gotten many donations. For the first time ever I was able to cover all fixed costs with these donations – and there is still money left which will be used for merchandising for Animalma! ROAR
Thank you so much for all your donations – your help is arriving in Bolivia and is making a huge change!
Outlook 2022
From the beginning of February until the mid of March im in Bolivia. Besides visiting Senda Verde, I’ll also be visiting the rangers in the Beni reserve.
In addition to that I will fulfil one of my biggest dreams and I’ll be visiting one of the deepest parts of the amazon rainforest – the Madidi National park. One of the highest biodiversity in the world awaits me, which is sadly, currently being destroyed by deforestation, overexploitation and illegal trade of wild animals.
The topic of re-release of all challenges that come with that is constantly on my mind. They’ll be my constant companion on my what I call “research-trip”.
I’m so very excited for this new adventure and all the inspiration I will take back home with me. These will be the driving-force behind Animalma for 2022. As soon as I am back I will share all my experiences with you.
If you would like to donate anything for Bolivia that I can take with my on my trip, then these are your options:
A financial donation for the emergency account #SOSSendaVerde, which will help the animals of Senda Verde through the still ongoing Corona crisis.
A donation for the nature of Bolivia; you could either adopt a turtle, in which case the money will go to the rangers, or donate through our website with the purpose of “firefighting”. With this we will be able to have preventative measures for the next fire season in place.
I’m looking forward to an exciting 2022 with Animalma and with you. Stay healthy, take are and hasta luego!
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.
Here we introduce you to the young howler monkeys we build the nursery cage for and say thank you to our supporters.
All the primates you see in this album are victims of the illegal wildlife trade, which is the second biggest threat to wild animals after habitat loss.
9 out of 10 animals taken from the wild die. Senda Verde takes in the survivors and gives them a new chance on life.
They are the ambassadors of their species. They are the wakeup call for us humans.
Surrogate mother Lorena is a volunteer @ Senda Verde helping to take care of the howler monkeys. She also took / organised all the pictures and videos in this album. ❤ Here you see her on the way to one of the temporary cages, so the little ones can learn to climb and interact with each other, but they desperately need a proper nursery cage. Will you help?
One of the temporary enclosures the young howlers are being taken care in until the nursery cage is built.
Meet Olmo and Cocolito. The slightly older Olmo (left) takes care of all the new arrivals.
Primates are very popular exotic pets – especially in South America, the US and Europe.
When primates are hunted to be sold alive, the mother animal gets killed first in order to capture the young.
The brutal capture is followed by a long, horrific transport from the jungle to the local black market and finally overseas. Only 1 out of 10 animals survives this torture.
Already established drug and human trafficking routes are used for wild animals too.
The surviving animals suffer from deep psychological traumas and also physical wounds and are showing abnormal behavioural traits.
Learning how to climb on branches is vital for the youngsters – as well as is playing, so they can learn how to interact in a troop.
In nature, these young howler monkeys would have spent the first two years with their mother giving them the necessary protection. Illegal wildlife trafficking has taken this safety and life at the shelter is risky despite all efforts.
Let’s give these souls the best chance on growing up save and sound – by building their nursery cage:
A healthy diet and close observation are key to the survival of the young primates. Howler monkeys are among the species of primates with the highest mortality rate in captivity due to their very complex and delicate digestion system.
Discovering the world together
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning…
Hygiene is another key issue for a successful upbringing. The sleeping area of the howler monkeys and their caretakers is cleaned by Lorena.
And most importantly just being there…
…if one of the Howlers needs help and / or a safe space.
