- ‘Yes, but I was invited by the director of one of volunteer organisation, Fauna Forever, his name is Chris Kirkby’
- ‘Oh, Chris! I know him, of course, he is a very good friend of mine!’
I am in another part of the region, Sandoval lake, talking to eco guide Esaud.
- ‘How long have you been travelling in Peru?’ – he asked.
- ‘It is the second week. I used to live with biologists in Venado.’
- ‘Venado? What is it?’
- ‘Well, it is one of the research station of Fauna Forever. Its director helped me to organise my trip.’
- ‘But what is his name?’
- ‘Chris Kirkby...’
- ‘Oh, Chris! I know him for a long time, from his first visit to Peru! That time he didn't know anything about our jungle that time, I was helping him to settle down here...’
At the end of my trip, I came to the conclusion that everyone in Tambopata Amazonia knows Chris Kirkby. And Chris, in his turn, knows everything and everyone in the region. Whatever I wanted to ask, wherever I decided to go, whatever a sudden whim came to my mind - Chris had a perfect answer and several options and solutions to achieve what I want. Even if it was not really clear for me at the time he proposes it.
‘I want to take a part in research work in remote areas and to talk to the professional biologists who are involved into the rainforest conservation? My aim is not to have just a holiday tour but to understand the process of jungle research and conservation from inside, better from the areas where there are no tourists’ - I wrote to Chris when I trying to plan this trip.
‘We can certainly accommodate your interest in gaining experience of working alongside professional wildlife researchers and conservation biologists in Amazon wildlife and conservation projects’ – was his reply.
- ‘But in the description of all projects I found so far it was mentioned that a volunteer has to live in the common place... It is not suitable for me; I need my own space.’
- ‘It is quite easy - replied Chris. - If you need your privacy then I do recommend you bring your own tent. There is a special camping area next to the lake at Venado Station, and just a short 50 m walk to the bathrooms, so I think you will like it.’
In contrast to all other organisations and people I wrote before, Chris was always replying fast and in details. But the main thing was that he never use the word "impossible".
I suddenly decided to move from the tent to Wasai Lodge? No problem, even to the private room - just for a little extra payment. Was I dreaming to see the river otters? They don't live in Venado lake, but I can go to Sandoval lake, accompanied by the professional guide, he can organise it for me.
It was a challenge to ask Chris a question that he could not answer!
- ‘Chris, is it possible to reach Manu National Park from here by the river?
He was thinking not more for a couple of seconds.’
- ‘Nobody did it so far, but I think it is possible, it is just a question of price. And it is better to do it vice versa - from Manu to Wasai, and in the rain season - otherwise it is dangerous... and quite difficult.’
Survival hikes and exclusive photo tours and video tours, budget backpackers campaigns and VIP all inclusive trips, educational and researchers - I didn't find anything what this man can't organise at a high professional level and for really reasonable price.
To catch Chris in some particular place is almost impossible - he is distributed in the region like an electron cloud around the proton.
- ‘Where is Chris? - asked I on my first day in Venado.’
- ‘Nobody knows for sure - was the reply. Yesterday he was seen in Wasai. He was going to come here, but probably he will go to Puerto first - if any he didn't have an urgent job in Cusco. Or somewhere else...’
Chris is originally British, but his soul is surely from and in Amazonia. He studied at three universities, and finally achieved a PhD. at the University of East Anglia.
His father works in Africa, and Chris spent a lot of years in different countries of that Continent. But when in 1995 he came to South America, he decided to remain here and do his best to research and protect this wonderful forest and its inhabitants. In 2004, he fulfilled his old dream, established Fauna Forever - a non-governmental organisation. His life-work grown up a lot in these 11 years, but the mainstream remains the same: FF is engaged in ecology, conservation, research and development of ecotourism in Tambopata region.
As a part of this work, specialists of Fauna Forever carry on contemporary research on bio density and biodiversity in the areas with different conditions. They have to understand how different human actions - ecotourism, hunting, mining, Brazil nut plantations, and so on - affect the ecology of the region.
- ‘And what is a worst problem you discovered so far, Chris?’
- ‘The main damage for the ecology is done by hunting and illegal deforestation. It destroys the natural balance, what is very difficult to restore.’
Dear Chris, I want to say a great thank you for the Real Man's Burden that you carry, for your understanding and popularisation of true values, for this great work you do for this rainforest - such great and wonderful - and in the same time so defenseless against the human meanness and lack of foresight.
09.03.2015
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