Last month, the Peru Wildlife Sanctuary was called in by wildlife authorities to rescue more than 80 animals in one go. After a massive wildlife trafficking operation was dismantled, over 300 animals were found in horrifying conditions. Many were crammed into small cages; starving, injured and some near death. Authorities, sanctuaries and NGOs rallied together to take in various monkeys, reptiles, rodents, and cats, each one in desperate need of care.
A lifeline in the jungle
There are no other facilities in the region with the high capacity or expertise of the Peru Wildlife Sanctuary, which often means they shoulder the majority of rescues. The team returned from this rescue mission with over 80 animals, including 2 baby howler monkeys, 26 opossums, 7 pygmy marmosets, 16 emerald tree boas, 16 frogs, 4 caiman lizards, a kinkajou, and an ocelot.
Just days later, another emergency hit. Sixteen sloths were confiscated in a separate raid. Again, many were injured, and some arrived at the sanctuary in critical condition. With over 100 animals rescued in the space of a few days, room in the sanctuary was limited, and resources were nearly maxed out, but the team sprang into action.
Temporary enclosures were built overnight, volunteers and interns put in extra hours, and the veterinary team worked around the clock. Baby monkeys needed feeding every few hours, injured reptiles underwent emergency surgery, and every animal needed to be stabilised and destressed.
From rescue to release
The goal for the Peru Wildlife Sanctuary is always the same: Rescue, rehabilitate, release. Over the past few weeks, the sanctuary has been dedicated and tireless in its work and has managed to hit several milestones already.
After just two weeks of rehabilitation, all 16 sloths were healthy enough to return to the wild. This was also the story for 26 opossums, 9 black and red agoutis, 4 caiman lizards, 10 frogs, and an armadillo. Every release has a detailed release plan laid out, which is submitted to the authorities for approval. This is to show that the release is safe, sustainable and supported by science.
During the health check-up for one of the caiman lizards before release, one female was found to be pregnant with up to 8-9 eggs! After the health checks and a 10-day quarantine, authorities greenlit the release. All were released into a protected pond on-site, where other wild caiman lizards are thriving.
The specialised biology and conservation team at the sanctuary are constantly developing and submitting release plans. It's hoped that more wildlife will be given their freedom back in the coming months.
Longer-term care
While many of the rescued animals have already made their way back to the wild, others will require longer-term rehabilitation, some possibly for life.
For instance, the young kinkajou pictured above had previously been kept as a pet. During her recent health check, she was found to be physically healthy, but as she is highly humanised, she'll need an extended rehabilitation period.
In this time, she'll be slowly introduced into a natural environment, human contact will be gradually decreased, and the team will encourage independent behaviours through enrichment. Her journey back to the wild will take time, patience, and specialised care.
The fight continues
The illegal wildlife trade in South America is worsening, and there seems to be a sharp rise in trafficking incidents driven by growing demand for exotic pets, the expansion of organised crime networks, and the ease of selling animals through online platforms.
From 2017 to 2022, reported cases nearly doubled, involving over 100,000 animals of all different species. Countries like Peru have become hotspots, where traffickers exploit legal loopholes and use social media to bypass authorities.
Recent international crackdowns, including Operation Green Shield, have led to a high number of arrests and major seizures, but enforcement struggles to keep pace with the evolving market, especially with the online trade boom. Organised crime groups are also now integrating wildlife trafficking alongside narcotics and arms smuggling.
Essentially, the trade has become more criminally sophisticated and reaches a global audience in ways it hasn't previously. This alarming trend is putting immense pressure on sanctuaries and conservation groups, who now face a near-constant influx of animals in need of rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
With Peru Wildlife Sanctuary on the frontlines, it seems that for every rescue, there's another call just around the corner.
The arrival of a baby otter
With their hands full caring for the influx of 100 animals in 3 days, it was only a couple of short weeks before they received their next call.
Just four days ago, a baby otter was discovered alone on a property. Likely orphaned due to the trade or environmental disturbance, he was weak and vulnerable. He's now safe at the sanctuary, has passed a full health screening (including X-rays), and is beginning his road to recovery.
He's adjusting well, and in his first supervised outdoor play session in the video above, he shows early signs of confidence and curiosity, which is a step in the right direction for considering future release.
Petting zoo crackdown
As this blog is being written, the sanctuary has just reported a disturbing new case: The crackdown of a wildlife petting zoo in Iquitos just yesterday. This facility has been drawing hundreds of tourists, participating in the exploitation of wild animals, and the worst part is that it happens sometimes unknowingly.
Wildlife being used for entertainment, photo ops, close encounters, and animal play sessions always comes at the expense of the animals' well-being. Behind every tourist selfie is a stressed, often mistreated animal forced into unnatural interactions for profit.
Luckily, the wildlife authorities were able to contact the sanctuary to rescue a giant anteater and two baby woolly monkeys. They are now safe at the sanctuary, where the giant anteater is in a more natural environment, enjoying a natural diet without crowds and stress.
Join the mission
The swift, compassionate response from both the Peru Wildlife Sanctuary team and local wildlife authorities deserves recognition. It should be celebrated and studied! Their tireless efforts are often carried out under intense pressure and limited resources. Yet they have given over a hundred animals a second chance at life in less than a month.
This kind of life-saving work doesn't happen without help. As the sanctuary continues to face an overwhelming influx of rescued wildlife, volunteers are urgently needed to support everything from animal care and feeding to enclosure building and enrichment. If you're considering a wildlife volunteer project, now more than ever, the Peru Wildlife Sanctuary needs your help!
Every extra set of hands helps give these animals the future they deserve.
