NAME: SAMM BENNETT
AGE: 19
PLACEMENT: AMAZON RAINFOREST
COUNTRY: UK
Samm was
Travellers first ever volunteer on the Amazon Rainforest Project!
What
experience do you feel you are gaining?I have
gained a great understanding of the real life of the Amazon rainforest,
ranging from the chaotic sounds of the Peccaries during the day to the
peaceful sounds of the nighttime insects and frogs. I have learnt a huge
amount of about all kinds of animals. Ranging from insects, reptiles,
amphibians, mammals and exotic birds like the Macaws, parrots and parakeets.
I have gained enough understanding of all these animals that I can now
identify them instantly.
In my free
time I have had enjoyment of fishing with the clean air and the overwhelming
view of the river and the forest around me. I have also had the chance to go
swimming in the river after a long trek through the jungle observing all
kinds of animals, as well as swimming in the small pools of the streams
within the forest. The whole experience of helping out in this project has
given me a great satisfaction, knowing that my work here is helping towards
a great and important course within conservation.
So far what
is the best thing about your placement? My
favourite experience at my placement was the sightings of the Wholly and the
Squirrel Monkey. Although they are very different in many ways, they were
equally exciting. On my second day in the forest I saw 20-30 small Squirrel
Monkeys that ended up to be all around me jumping from one tree to another.
Some of which were very curious and were trying to get a better view of me.
A couple of weeks later I saw the Wholly monkey, one of the largest monkeys
here. Which were huge, almost like gorillas. They were the most impressive
things I’ve ever seen.
Would you
recommend this placement to anyone else? I would definitely recommend
this placement to anyone interested in nature. The forest itself is the most
beautiful place you possibly could go. Filled with all kinds of plants,
flowers, insects and a huge variety of different animals, some of which are
harder to see than others.
What type of
person do you think this placement would suit? Anyone who is interested
and has a great respect for nature that is willing to work hard, work well
within a team and enjoys socializing with people from different cultures.
Was there
anything that you weren’t told before you went away that you think future
volunteers should know? A good pair of binoculars will be needed not
just for the enjoyment side of things but for being able to identify all
kinds of animals. This is important because data that is collected for the
mammal and macaw projects need to be accurate. If you wear glasses, contact
lenses will be recommended when observing mammals in the forest as the can
steam up easily (This is not so important) Also at least 2 pairs of glasses
will be needed just in case one brakes.
Can you describe a typical
day? A typical day for me is to get up for 5am to go observe the Macaws,
parrots, parakeets. Then I have breakfast at 7:30. After this I then go into
the jungle to do mammal observations and return by 12pm to have lunch at
1pm. Then I MAY go back into the jungle to go to the mammal clay lick to see
what kind of activity as occured, but sometimes I will have an afternoon off
to relax. Then dinner is served at 7pm. Afterwards I will go to bed or
sometimes go for a night walk.
NAME: JOE ROBBINS
AGE: 17
PLACEMENT: AMAZON RAINFOREST
COUNTRY: UK
What experience do you feel
you are gaining? I have gained valuable experience whilst working with 2
botanists here at the MLC in plant collections and identification. I have
gained experience in visiting other cultures, in a country that is quite
poverty stricken. This has heightened my respect for other people’s cultural
activities and beliefs. I have also gained a lot of experience in botany
fieldwork which is great for my studies in botanical horticulture and will
help me develop my knowledge of plants and plant ecosystems in the future. I
have seen many different types of flora growing in lowland Amazon, Cloud
forest and more arid flora on the mountainside, by seeing these my
understanding of these plants has increased. It is also quite good to
experience living in a small group in for a long period of time; it can be
challenging but is good fun and character building!!
So far what is the best thing
about your placement? The location. The forest that surrounds the MLC
combines both primary and secondary and comparing between the forests is
very interesting. The sights and sounds of the rainforest are incredible.
What type of
person do you think this placement would suit? I
think that this placement would best suit someone interested mainly in
mammal studies as you would have to have an understanding of tropical flora
or be working with botanists to study the plants. Mammal studies are easier
to understand and you can teach yourself from books etc!!! Most people at
the MLC are mainly interested in the mammals. Volunteers should also enjoy
difficult walks and should not mind creepy crawleys! I also think that to
live in a small group to you have got be sociable but at the same time
respect other people’s personal space.
A typical day?
Those that do mammal studies visit the claylick at 5 am, I did this once
and I thought that it was an incredible experience, all those wonderful
colours of the parrots!
7 am: A lovely breakfast is served 8 until 9 am: Getting ready for the day, maybe a shower or some
clothes washing etc. 9 until 11 am: Identifying plants collected the previous day using an
identification key. Each plant is then labelled with its family and genus,
where it was collected and when. The plants are then prepared as herbarium
specimens and pressed. 11.30 am: Head out on a trail to collect plant specimens, a different
trail each day 1.00 pm: Box lunch often beside one of the streams 4 until 5 pm: Return from the jungle, normally very tired! 5 until 6 pm: Shower and relax 7 pm: Dinner is served, always great food 8 pm: Relaxing, reading, chatting and then bed
Visits to Salvasion on Wednesday, are really enjoyable and good fun with a
nice lunch in town and internet access and an international telephone. It is
good to have a day out of the MLC a few times through the placement.
The staff at the
MLC are absolutely wonderful, you cannot fault their devotion and care that
they have to the volunteers. I have been looked after very well. I have had
a really great time!
.
+44 01903 502595
