| September
20, 2005 I forgot to tell you one very good news — a Mexican lady who has family in Iquitos and visited us almost a month ago liked what we are doing at Pilpintuwasi. At the end of the visit she asked us if she could donate any money — definitely we accepted. To our big surprise she asked us to go with her to the bank as she didn't have enough cash with her . . . and she donated $500 (!!!!) which we want to use mostly to make Lola's cage bigger. The lady wanted a bill so she can try a discount on her taxes, but I do not think there is any agreement between the USA and Peru. So I promised her to write to you so you can put her on the list of donators and she gets some proof of her donation. The lady's name is Cinthia Quiñonez from Chula Vista, California. Unfortunately right now we cannot do any building because the water is still incredibly low (people here say it hasn't been as low for at least 50 years, the difference to the highest water level is now more than 14 meters!!). It would be too much problem to get the material to our place. So Lola will have to wait a few weeks more. If you can visit, April is best, when we have highwater and you can travel by boat to Pilpintuwasi, and you can tour by boat in the area. It seems that finally the strike at the university will end, and so I'll probably be at the university in October. I'm not sure about it — I need the salary for feeding the animals, but on the other hand I need more time for Pilpintuwasi, the animals and tourists. Yesterday evening a guy brought a tiny monkey; I don't know the specie's name in English. The animal is very skinny and I just came to town also to get some more babyfood and lettuce for the manatee. I think I mentioned that Guy Oliver, an oceanologist, has been helping us with the manatee. Last week I wrote him again to tell him my worries about the manatee getting so skinny and asked him for an advice. On Sunday he called from California to tell me that he had contacted 2 vets from Sea World and they said we should go on feeding the animal lettuce. He also told me that he's going to get some more information about possible parasites — and I just saw before that I have a mail from somebody I don't know with the subject "manatee," so maybe I have some new information already. I just want to thank this man; if he's not yet on the donor list please put his name there. I've got to go to the market before it gets too late. Love, Gudrun |
Amazon Animal Orphanage
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm
www.AmazonAnimalOrphanage.org
pilpintuwasi@hotmail.com
063-23-2665
Padre Cocha
Iquitos, Peru