The past two months have brought many new faces to Esperanza Verde, from rescued animals to a new team member. We are excited to introduce them all to you.
Animals
One of the latest rescues entrusted to us by the Ministry of Flora and Fauna is female woolly monkey Imana. She was kept tied up at a house and dressed in human clothes. Despite her difficult past, she has a gentle and playful character. After completing quarantine, Imana moved to an outside enclosure, where she is getting to know the outside woolly monkeys. We hope she will soon join them and become a full member of the group.
Other recent arrivals included red-tailed boa Jörmungandr, scorpion mud turtle James Pond, and yellow-spotted river turtle MuddyPenny. After health checks, a short observation period, and deworming treatment, all three were ready to return to the wild.
After saying goodbye to our beloved dog Yara, Esperanza Verde was not without a guard dog for long. We are delighted to welcome Gordo, a young local dog in need of a new home. He settled in quickly, and Liam has taken him under his wing, helping him learn how to live among the monkeys. So far, Gordo is adapting remarkably well.
We are also happy to share an update on some of our long-term woolly monkey residents. Panchin arrived in 2021 after being kept as a pet. Although adjusting to life with other monkeys was difficult at first, he has grown into a strong adult male with an important role in the group. As second in command after alpha male Yauri, he is often among the first to welcome newcomers and help them settle in.
Mushu was rescued from the illegal pet trade in 2023 and quickly formed friendships, especially with Panchin. He has grown into a healthy, confident young male who enjoys showing off his playful antics to arrivals, including our volunteers.
The newest member of the outside woolly monkey group is Nola. She arrived in early 2025 after being kept as a pet and was gradually weaned off human contact. She integrated quickly and is often seen alongside alpha male Yauri. She has chosen her friends well!
Susy Utzinger Orphan Animal Hospital
New arrivals included howler monkey Fossi, squirrel monkey Fito, and Andean saddleback tamarin Kida. They all spent their quarantine period at the clinic, where they received intensive care, milk, food, and vitamins several times a day. Volunteers also caught grasshoppers, giving Fito and Kida the chance to practice their natural hunting behaviour.
After quarantine, Fossi moved to an outside enclosure with female saki monkey Tilia. Fito also moved outside and has already been visited by squirrel monkeys Milo, Mina, and Anora. Kida is still very small and has some physical disabilities, so she will remain at the clinic for further observation and treatment.
Aika and Nimo, the youngest female and male woolly monkeys, are thriving in the clinic. Their round little bellies show how much they enjoy their meals, but that certainly does not slow them down. They spend their days climbing ropes and branches and exploring every corner of their enclosure. Soon they too will be ready to move to an outdoor enclosure where they can gradually become part of the outside woolly monkey group.
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to young monk saki Acacia. Earlier this year, she arrived with Tilia and was growing stronger as she prepared for a future release. After suffering complications following an unexpected ant invasion, her condition declined rapidly despite intensive care. Although she was only with us for a short time, Acacia left a lasting impression and will be dearly missed.
We also lost one of our oldest residents, white-eyed parakeet Pichu, who had lived with us for nearly twelve years. One of our large aviaries is even named after her. Before arriving at EV, her flight feathers had been removed, and she never regained the ability to fly. After several recent falls, she was admitted to the Susy Utzinger Orphan Animal Hospital, where we discovered multiple untreatable medical conditions. We sadly had to make the difficult decision to let her go.
Quarantine
Night monkeys Kasumi, Tingana, and Otari were also among our latest arrivals. Kasumi has recently moved to an outside enclosure. Although we hoped to introduce him to Tingana and Otari, the three did not get along, so Tingana and Otari were moved to a separate enclosure. We hope to prepare Kasumi and Tingana for future release, although separately.
Unfortunately, Otari has faced greater challenges. Poor nutrition early in life caused metabolic bone disease, leaving him with deformities in his legs, arms, and jaw. A release is unlikely, but he eagerly explores his enclosure and searches for food. We hope to give him the best possible life here at Esperanza Verde.
We also welcomed juvenile two-fingered sloth Siula. From her first day, she proved she had not lost her natural sloth instincts. She sleeps throughout the day and becomes active at night, enjoying generous portions of fresh leaves and vegetables. Soon she should be ready to begin exploring the jungle on her own.
Construction & maintenance
The large pond in the reptile enclosure recently received its annual clean. After draining and scrubbing the pond, the team took the opportunity to catch the turtles that usually stay hidden underwater. Each turtle received a health check, was weighed, measured, and dewormed before returning to its freshly cleaned home.
Maintenance at Esperanza Verde never stops. Over the past month, Geyler repaired the roofs of several buildings and enclosures. With monkeys constantly climbing and playing on them, regular maintenance is essential.
Volunteers & other updates
Besides welcoming many new animals, we are also excited to welcome a new team member. Claire from the UK has joined Esperanza Verde as our new assistant manager, taking over from Maud for the coming year. With years of experience at other wildlife rescue centres, we are confident she will be a great addition to the team. Welcome to the EV family, Claire!
We were honoured to welcome the new Head of the Ministry of Flora and Fauna for the Ucayali region, Ing. Vilma Vilcas Melchor. Together with members of her team and local media, she toured Esperanza Verde while Douwe explained the rehabilitation process every rescued animal goes through. Ing. Vilcas Melchor emphasised the importance of our work and our shared mission of giving rescued wildlife a second chance.
As tradition has it, every June, we celebrated San Juan at our waterfall. Staff, volunteers, and family gathered to enjoy Juanes, the traditional Amazonian dish, and spend a relaxing afternoon together after another busy month at Esperanza Verde.
Join the Team – We Need You!
We’re looking for new volunteers to join us in the coming months! Whether you’re travelling in Peru or dreaming of life in the Amazon, your hands and heart are welcome here.
Get in touch: info@esperanzaverdeperu.com — and come be part of something wild and wonderful.
Hasta la próxima!