First impressions for our giant otter trip

Over a week ago, we made our way by boat in the upper Madre de Dios river from Salvacion to Manu National Park (Peru). This was the start of the first trip for our new giant otter project, aimed at investigating effects of human activity on these charismatic carnivores.

I am writing from Puerto Maldonado, where we stopped for a few days to do some neccsary logistic preparations and investigate groups in the city's vicinity. We are currently surveying unrpotected areas in the Lower Madre de Dios. The animals in the picture were photographed in Cocha Salvador, where we've identified a group of seven animals. We have since observed giant otters in three additional locations.