Taylor Brandt Studies Biology in Peruvian Rainforest

2016 Jun 23

Taylor Brandt of Shushan, NY, saw not one, but four jaguars in the wild while traversing Peru's Manu River in a small boat filled with fellow SUNY Oneonta students.

The jaguar sightings were among many exciting moments during the 22-day tropical biology summer field course, which also included a rare glimpse of an anaconda curled up on a tree trunk in the Manu River.

“Staying in Peru was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” said Brandt. “We were challenged academically and physically as we got the chance to explore a different culture and spend time in Manu National Park. We went from walking to Incan sites in the mountains, to viewing Kapok trees and giant river otters in the jungle. I'll never forget my time spent in this beautiful country with my classmates and friends, and I hope someday that I can return!”

After a week in the Andes Mountains, including a visit to the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, the group settled at a tourist lodge adjacent to Project Buena Vista, a nonprofit organization founded by Reyda and his wife to protect the flora and fauna of a 100-acre swath of rainforest in southeastern Peru.

There, the students immersed themselves in tropical biology with hikes and lab activities. A highlight of the trip was a week-long visit to Manu National Park, a 6,000-square-mile protected area that's accessible only by boat.

"No matter how much I brief the students on it, they don't really realize how much wildlife they're going to see," said Associate Professor of Biology Florian Reyda, who co-led the course with Biology Professor Donna Vogler.