News Detail

Nov 8, 2012

The team arrives!  Over the last day, a team of 12 of us gathered together in Lima Peru and began preparations to head South to Punta San Juan. Getting a late start we began our journey south mid day.  Traveling with 2 trucks and one car loaded with luggage, veterinary supplies and food we secured our possessions and headed south. For those of us new to the country, although this is a long car ride (we currently are on our 7th hour and still 2 hours from arrival), the trip has been amazing! The drive has allowed us the opportunity to make new friends as well as see a country far different that where we came from! Lima is very diverse both culturally as well as economically. the city is huge and for two hours we drove within its' limits following the coastline south. As we cleared the city the concept of traveling on a 2 lane road through the middle of a desert was fascinating. Often times we caught glimpse of the sea on our shoulders but for hours we traveled through magnificent sand hills the size of large foothills in the states. Occasionally we would travel through an oasis, a valley of plush green where the water coming from the Andies Mountains traveled to meet the Pacific Ocean providing plants and greenery in an otherwise vast sandy landscape.  Some of the towns we traveled through illustrated the hardships this country endures. However the scenery was spectacular and inspired much conversation as to native animals as well as environmental concerns and conservation projects.  Being so close to the equator the time of sunset is consistent and by 7:30 pm the sky was black however the number of stars lighting the sky was breath taking! Just as we arrived in the town of Marcona, the town encumbered a black out which created added fun in exploring our field house.  With vision limited, we were met by the sounds of surf, sea lions, birds which would have to wait until morning.

Nov 9, 2012

Walking out onto balcony this morning we were met by a sight far more beautiful than could have been expected.  Our backyard is the ocean and we are surrounded by sharp jagged cliffs and a rocky beach area inhabited by South American sea lions that were playing in the surf, sunning and competing for territories. Just to the left of the sea lions we were greeted by a flock of penguins marching across the rocky cliff. Breath taking is an understatement. While the veterinarians readied supplies, we were treated to a tour of the reserve. Tracking over sand dunes, through an empty cormorant nesting site was amazing enough but nothing prepared us for the views from the blinds at the top of the cliffs.  Looking down we watched in awe as hundreds of fur seals, sea lions and penguins unaware of our presence, went about life.  The beauty was beyond me and I could have stayed for hours!  Juveniles playing, adults establishing territories, females nursing pups and youngsters engaged in a game of tag surrounded us……almost sensory overload. Everywhere we looked additional species came into view - Peruvian Boobies with chicks in nests, Red eyed Cormorants heading out to feed, Humboldt penguins curious of anything and everything around them.  The realization of where we were and what we were here for was overwhelming!

Health assessments began in the afternoon.  This was a learning day for the newbie’s but nothing about the entire process was a surprise.  The same precautions were made, safety for everyone was a priority and responsibilities were distributed among the team.  The goal today was male South American sea lions.  We were fortunate and three adult males were darted, sedated and full health assessments preformed.  Ages were presumed between 5-7 years with the largest weighing 520 lbs.   Each animal received a complete workup with weights, measurements, blood samples, cultures, and tagging completed prior to our reversing anesthesia and releasing them back to the wild. Interestingly enough two of our animals looked to be in prime physical health while the last one appeared to be malnourished and possibly unhealthy.  While we were concerned over this animal’s health, he reinforced our purpose for being here completely.   There is much to learn here and it was rewarding to see the team working so smoothly on our first day.  Dusk arrived quickly and with the night in front of us to learn about processing samples we headed in.  With our first day exceeding expectations we rolled in to a busy night with preparations beginning already for a full day tomorrow!