Co-Leader & Medical Officer

Helfrid Rossiter (25), British-Swedish

Helfrid is an environmental chemist with a strong interest in understanding of the drivers and processes of human resource use, ranging from geochemical cycles to tropical forests. She has participated in the 2002 and 2003 expeditions.

Delford Gonzales Puma (25), Peruvian.

Delford has obtained a BSc in Tourism from a University in Puerto Maldonado.

Karen Mackellow (23), British.

Karen is currently in her final year at Edinburgh University studying for a BSc with Honours in Ecology.

Ernesto (25), Peruvian.

Ernesto is a Forestry Engineer from La Molina in Lima.

Hamish Mackintosh (21), British.

Hamish is in his 2nd year studying Zoology at the University of Edinburgh.

Hannes Dempewolf (22), German.

Hannes is currently in his 2nd year at the University of Edinburgh. He was a volunteer on PLP and is now preparing his own expedition to Madre de Dios for 2004.

Jo (25), British.

Jo is a final year law student at the University of Edinburgh.

Jake Charles Dunn (22), he claims to be Scottish, Irish and Walsh

Jake is just about to finish his BSc (Hons) in Zoology at the University of Edinburgh. Having volunteered for many years at the Twycross Monkey House he seemed to have a somehow special relationship with the animals. He was the lucky one in the team and managed to see a sloth, a harpy eagle and jaguar in just three months.

Guillermo Martin Montoya Mordes (26), Peruvian

Guillermo finished his BSc in Biology at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima. He was probably toughest guy in the team and insisted on tasting everything that Javier found somewhere in the forest. After three months in the forest it did not take more than one week for him to get onto another project and head to a different place in Peru. If he finds some time inbetween the field work, he will study marine biology for a MSc degree.

Marcos Manuel Maguiña Paredes (25), Peruvian

Marcos has a BSc in Biology and is currently enrolled as a 3rd year veterinary student at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. He had not been in the forest before and fell in love right away. He is planning to set up his own research project with coatis but before this he will join Project Las Piedras 2003 again.

Christina Mills (24), British-German.

Christina is a 3rd year undergraduate in Ecology at the University of Edinburgh. She has travelled extensively throughout the world and worked with eco-tourism companies both in Venezuela and Nepal, giving her familiarity with the life of indigenous communities.

Julio Canaciri (45), Peruvian

Julio has worked for many years in logging industry in Madre de Dios but decided to start a university degree in forestry. He finished at the University of Puerto Maldonado in 2002 and is looking forward to gaining further field experience in scientific data collection. Project Las Piedras was a good start.

Saul Pacaya (26), Peruvian

Saul was our guide in 2003. He is a trained medical assistant and like his brother Javier of brilliant help during the mammal census

Andres Vera (43), Peruvian

Andres has worked for more than 20 years in logging and gold mining camps in Peru and Bolivia. He has gained experience in scientific data collection whilst participating in ecological projects in Madre de Dios, e.g. Project Tambopata led by Chris Kirkby. His experience, enthusiasm and friendship with many of the loggers encountered was invaluable during the data collection.

Orlando Javier Pacaya Alvarez (34), Peruvian

Javier is a native of the San Jacinto community, situated close to Puerto Maldonado. He is primary school teacher without employment, since he did not have enough money to finish his degree. At the moment he
works as a part-time artisan, fisherman and logger. We could not have done without his expert eyes when it came to spotting animals during transect walking.

Manuel R. Yumbato (40), Peruvian

Manuel was our guide in 2002. He has worked all his life in mining and logging camps in Madre de Dios. During the last few years he has become involved in guiding visiting biologists and specialist groups, e.g. photographers of the National Geographic, and conservation work. He has participated in a variety of field projects for organisations such as the Amazon Conservation Association and TReeS.

Marcia Pacaya (24), Peruvian

Our indispensable cook during the 2003 expedition. We loved her pancakes at 5am.

Transect cutters in 2002

Rudolfo Rolin (64), Lewis Rolin (32) and Fernando Belinda (33), Peruvian.