10 days in the Jungle for Wildlife Conservation

My best friend Jocelyn and I needed a life change. We believed in something larger than ourselves. 
Jocelyn was a manager at a dog shelter, and was attacked by a pit bull. She was forced to resign by the owner. 
I was a manager at a whiskey distillery and was fired for speaking out against the unethical treatment of the employees. 

We moved to Cusco Peru in January of 2022 with a hope to be re-inspired.

On January 20, 2022 we interview Gudrun Sperrer. 

Gudrun was born in Austria in 1962. At seven years old she wrote down in a book that she wanted to live in the jungle and help the wildlife. When Gudrun turned 20, her and her best friend visited Peru to hike Machu Picchu. While her friend found love on the mountain, Gudrun found love in the Jungle. As soon as she left the Amazon Rainforest, she vowed to return, and she did. 

Gudrun use to take a canoe every morning and evening, to a local village where she taught kindergarten through six grade with a single book for the entire school.  After that, she began teaching English and German at the local college. She used teaching as a resource to pursue her interest in wildlife. In 2002, Gudrun began a butterfly farm with hopes of repopulating critically endangered species. What started as a butterfly farm, quickly evolved into a wildlife rehabilitation center. In 2004, The Peruvian government starting dropping off injurie animals, often from animal trafficker's on her front door.   Pilpintuwasi Wildlife Rescue Center and Butterfly Farm began with a male leopard 22 years ago, and he is still alive to this day all thanks to the kind heard of Gudrun. 

Pilpintuwasi's mission is to end illegal wildlife trafficking through education, rescuing wildlife, and protecting their habitats.

Unfortunatelyhttps://pilpintuwasi.com/ , during Covid-19 all tourism was shut down in Peru. Gudrun had to sell her family home in Austria to afford the food for the animal's diets. She works countless hours around the clock because of the lack of staffing. 

We stood in the kitchen as one the rescued Uakaris Red Face Monkey drank milk while sitting on Gudrun's shoulder. It was the first time I saw her stand still that entire day. She sighed, and I could feel the weight of the world on her other shoulder. In a very loving voice, Gudrun said, "this single moment of happiness is what makes it all worth it." 

Jocelyn and I are dedicating our 10 days of surviving in the Amazon Rainforest to Wildlife Conservation with the proceeds going to Pilpintuwasi Wildlife Rescue Center and Butterfly Farm. 

Thank you for your generosity and kindness. But most of all, I want to thank you for reading Gudrun's story, and hopefully you will be as inspired as we are.