Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Wilkinson Tour, July 2009.
After a night stay at our Bed and Breakfast in Lima, Tom Wilkinson and his daughter, Alissa, transferred back to the Lima Airport for their flight to the Jungle.
Meeting the plane
Tom and Alissa’s flight from Lima took approximately two hours, with a brief layover in Cusco to refuel and take on those passengers going on the next leg of their journey down into the jungle. We met them at the airport in Puerto Maldonado and took them directly to their hotel in town.
The clock tower in the Plaza de Armas in Puerto Maldonado
After settling them into their hotel room, we took them to see a little bit of the city. After Pizza dinner and a good nights sleep, we were off to the Brazilian border to sample the streams going north from Puerto Maldonado.
Here is our “Burro”. Four Wheel Drive and plenty of space for us and our gear:
Crossing the Madre de dios River by ferry
After driving for 3 hours north from Puerto Maldonado on the newly paved highway, we made it to the border crossing at Inapari. We had made plans to stay in Villa Assis, just across the Rio Acre in Brazil. The accommodations were extremely limited on the Peruvian side of the border, so it made the decision easier.
The new bridge spanning the Peru-Brazil border at the Rio Acre
There is a “Zona Libre” or free area at the border that does not require obtaining a Brazilian Visa to enter. This is the guesthouse that we stayed in when in Villa Assis.
While we waited for one of our crew to recover from a high fever we had time for this:
The Rio Acre at sunset. Peru is on the left, Brazil on the right.
In the cool of the evening we had a chance to walk back to the border and watch the sun set from the border crossing bridge. The next morning we were headed back to Puerto Maldonado sampling streams as we went.
Our Driver, Edgardo, standing on the brand new paved highway that runs north to the border with Brazil. This makes the trip much smoother and faster, thereby allowing us to cover much more collecting territory!!
Tom in search of Apistogramma rubrolineata. As we headed south we sampled many creeks along the highway however the previous night’s rain had raised the water levels in all of these streams, making collection much more difficult.
Here’s what he found.
An outstanding fish!
Incredible butterflies!!
The “dry” season in 2009 was considered unusual in terms of how wet it truly was. Many of the streams we would typically find easy to collect in at this time of year were high and muddy!
Storm over the Rio Madre de Dios at Puerto Maldonado
Alissa is showing us all how to catch Apistogramma luellingi!!!
Crenicara spp. aff. punctulatum.
Apistogramma leullingi male
When it was time for them to leave, they didn’t want to go home, and we wanted them to stay! Thanks Tom and Alissa! We are looking forward to your next collecting trip to the Madre de Dios region!!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Ranitomeya biolat
Kids Come Collecting too!
See a journal I wrote about my sons trip with me to collect in Peru this past summer, and some of the adventures we had right here:
http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=26730
http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=26730
Friday, December 18, 2009
Aquatic plant post on TFH forums
http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=26724
If you have an interest in Aquatic plants, have a look. Any help with identification of these will be greatly appreciated.
If you have an interest in Aquatic plants, have a look. Any help with identification of these will be greatly appreciated.
WildPERU is on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Puerto-Maldonado-Peru/WildPERU-custom-jungle-adventure-/204804909110?v=photos#/pages/Puerto-Maldonado-Peru/WildPERU-custom-jungle-adventure-/204804909110
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Orchids Interoceanica
http://www.quintinlake.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=1&a=0&at=0
Here is an interesting group of photos that include some of the areas we will visit this Summer. The paving of the highway across the Andes will have far-reaching implications for the entire region. WildPERU wants to get into these areas, before they change irrevocably! Enjoy!
Here is an interesting group of photos that include some of the areas we will visit this Summer. The paving of the highway across the Andes will have far-reaching implications for the entire region. WildPERU wants to get into these areas, before they change irrevocably! Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus Loc. sspp- KM11
Giant Otters!!!
This is an oxbow lake we visit regularly. Incredible wildlife, plantlife and serene scenery combine to make this one of my top five places in the whole world!!(so far) Ahhhhh!!! I feel the tension come out of my body just watching this video!!
Labels:
collecting,
corydoras catfish,
flowers,
peru,
photography,
t ravel,
tour,
tropical
Monday, December 14, 2009
What is this fish? If you think you can ID it for me, let me know. This is why I need a "Pleco. Expert" to come on the Rio Parimanu expedition this summer 2010. I really know only a little about identifying this group of fish. We find new catfish all the time and some of them are like this one: What is it? Is it new?
So I really need someone with knowledge of these fish to come along and help us sort these out. It's a chance for adventure off the main path, into an area that is, so far, unknown. If that sounds like something you'd like to try, send me and email!!
WildPERU website is now operational!!
You can either click on the picture of Tom and Alissa Wilkinson and my son Eoghan fishing near Pto. Maldonado, or surf to this link:
www.wildperu.net
to reach the new company website!! Bookmark this site and return often, as I will be constantly adding content to it.
www.wildperu.net
to reach the new company website!! Bookmark this site and return often, as I will be constantly adding content to it.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
More Rivulus collecting
This time we are collecting down in the Jungle near to an Oxbow lake. The fish we are catching is Rivulus christinae.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Corydoras weitzmani in the wild. This is the long version from which the first video was taken
The first ever video of C. weitzmani in the Cloud Forest of Peru.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Cloud Forest Flowers and Falls
Labels:
flowers,
outdoors,
peru,
photography,
tours,
travel,
tropical,
waterfalls
Two Cories/One Stream
This is a lowland jungle stream near Pto. Maldonado. Lance called the first one "C115" and said he has seen them up to 3.5" in length! The second one is very different. Note the nice Caudal barring!
Labels:
catfish,
collecting,
corydoras catfish,
fish,
peru,
tours,
travel,
tropical
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Collecting Rivulus Killifish in the Cloud Forest
A very nice location of Rivulus spp. aff. rubroliniatus collected in the cloud forest, This will give you a good idea of the sorts of habitats the Rivulus here favor.
Let's go Fishing!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Kids Come Collecting too!
Please meet WildPERU's manager in Pto. Maldonado!!
William "Willy" Wither. Has lived and worked in the Pto. Maldonado area since the 1970's; first in tourism at some of the lodges that were being established here and later as a free-lance guide. Willys boundless energy and extensive knowledge of and contacts in the area make him the most valuable resource for our clients coming to visit the Madre de Dios. His enthusiasm and friendly personality makes everyone feel welcome!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
New Allobates spp??
New Aphyolebias species???
I am still waiting to hear the verdict on whether this is a new species of Aphyolebias killifish or not! What is your opinion?
Orchid Discovery and Pampas del Heath
Our next outing will start February 1st, and officially open the 2010 collecting season. First we will be headed to the Pampas del Heath along the border with Boliva. This is one of the last savanna habitats existing in it's natural state in all of South America (many of them have been converted to grazing lands), and the only one of it's kind in Peru. PDH boasts a wonderful array of specialized wildlife from Giant anteaters & Toco Toucans to forest deer and wild dogs. After a week exploring this area, we are headed up to the Cloud forest. February is the wet season, and it will be, well, very wet! It is always wet in the Cloud forest, but February is "Primetime" for viewing orchids. So for putting up with a little rain (no problem for us Portlanders.... Haha!) we'll be in for a real visual treat. This region boasts nearly 60 species of Hummingbirds, & Cock-of-the-Rock. Spectacled Bear, Tayra and Tapir can be seen as well. The Cloud Forest is home to many new species of frogs that have so far await discovery and there are many streams that have never seen a net, let alone any systematic inventory or survey. See the video in the last post. This is one example of the fish that we will see.
Brian
Welcome to WildPeru
Welcome to the WildPERU Blog! We are just getting started!!! Bookmark us and come back frequently to see new information and progress.
Ciao,
Brian Perkins
Ciao,
Brian Perkins
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