"Hunting by Tikunas in the Southern Colombian Amazon" by Angela Maldonado

This book presents the results of Entropika's community-based research with the active involvement of Tikuna indigenous people. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for the implementation of a conservation strategy in the study area.

Available at:

Entropika and the Aotus Project in Maimi, Florida

A. Maldonado and T. Lafon were invited by Dr. Sian Evans from the DuMond Conservancy to give 3 oral presentations on the Aotus Project: at the Amazonia Festival at Monkey Jungle, at Florida International University and at the Terra Environmental Institute for Research. Entropika is now working together with Terra and the DuMond Conservancy in the design of a canopy camera to record behavioural information of night monkeys.

During the launch event for the Book "Engine 2 Diet" by Rip Esselstyn (US professional athlete), organised by the American organic food chain Whole Foods, T. Lafon and A. Maldonado gave poster presentations and distributed yellow chilli samples for promotion purposes. In addition, at the Amazon Festival at Monkey Jungle, T. Lafon gave posters presentations about the yellow chilli project.

IPPL (US) – Entropika at the 61st Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee

The 61st Standing Committee (SC61) meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland, discussed crucial issues regarding the trade of wildlife and flora, such as enforcement matters and the trade and conservation issues in species. Entropika participated in the meeting as a delegate from the International Primate Protection League, an American NGO with whom it has been working since 2006. Our main aim was to provide baseline information on the illegal trade in night moneys for biomedical research market in Leticia, Colombia. Delegates from the range countries where the trade is carried out (Brazil, Colombia and Peru) were contacted during the SC61 as well as the CITES animals committee. With collaboration and advice of national and international NGOs, we are now working together with a research team from the San Marcos University from Lima, Peru, on a document that will provide CITES with the necessary evidence to control the trade of night monkeys in the tri-border area. Click below for more information.

Species Survival Network report on the elephant debate
Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of the SC61
El Comercio article, 21st August 2011

Potable water for Vista Alegre, Peru

With the financial support of the US organisation the $10 Club, Entropika installed the first basic potable water system in Vista Alegre, one of the Peruvian communities part of the Aotus Project. Vista Alegre was one of the main providers of night monkeys for the malaria research market in Leticia, Colombia, and currently applies a hunting ban on these primates.

More information on this project can be found here.

Campaign against the trade of wildlife in the Amazonian tri-border area: Using night monkeys (Aotus spp.) as flagship species

Presentations of wildlife veterinarian Mauricio Vargas-Madrid and Dr. Angela Maldonado, given at the auditorio de la Biblioteca del Banco de la Republica, Leticia, Colombia. The symposium was attended by NGOs, regional governmental authorities, schools, associations of indigenous authorities, higher education institutions, civil society, amongst others. Click below to see the presentations (in Spanish).

Conservation biology of Aotus (Vargas)
Illegal trade of Aotus (Maldonado)

Launch of the Water Cylce Project (WCP)

The main aim of this project is to provide potable water and basic sanitation to six Tikuna communities located at the Colombian-Peruvian Amazonian border. The WCP is the first bi-national project aiming to implement clean technologies in this Amazonian region.

More information on the "Projects" page of this website.

Release of the Amazonian Fruit Guide

Combining traditional ecological knowledge with scientific knowledge, Andres Barona with a group of local co-investigators from the Tikuna indigenous communities of Mocagua and San Martin de Amacayacu, identified key plant species for local people and wildlife. This material provides baseline information for education in botanic for indigenous people and students at Amacayacu National Park and its overlapping Tikuna communities, in the Colombian Amazon. Click here to see the Fruit Guide (in Spanish).

Testing AnaSonde-3M sounding equipment in the Colombian Amazon

Jennifer Fowler, physics instructional laboratory coordinator from the University of Montana, USA, and Abby Thane, her student, came to Leticia to test sounding equipment developed by AnaSphere and train Entropika's staff in the collection of meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure). This project is to be integrated into Entropika’s work in climatology, aiming to raise awareness on climate change through local training and the setting up of weather stations in private reserves and other study sites.

The Aotus project on Caracol TV

Short documentary "Mujeres que luchan en la selva" presented by Crónicas Caracol.

International Congress of Primatology, Kyoto, Japan

Oral presentation of "Trade in night monkeys Aotus spp. in the Brazil-Colombia-Peru tri-border area: International wildlife trade regulations are ineffectively enforced".

Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Maldonado discussing possible ways to stop illegal trade of night monkeys in the Colombian-Peruvian border area.

Visit from a group of students from The Durell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Kent University, UK

Filming of the documentary "Living on the Edge" where evidence of the illegal trade in night monkeys was recorded.

Visit from Chris Kraul from Los Angeles Times

Interview for the article "In Colombia, activist works to preserve monkeys".

Los Angeles Times article, 10th July 2010

NGO reception at The HSCB Private Bank, London, UK

Speech as winner of the HSBC Whitley Award and questions session.

Martin Stanley and Peter Bennett from Rainforest Concern, long-time donors of Entropika.

The Whitley Awards Ceremony at The Royal Geographical Society, London, UK

Fundación Entropika wins The Whitley Gold Award 2010.

Pictures of the ceremony
The Telegraph article, 13th May 2010
El Tiempo article, 13th May 2010
El Tiempo article, 15th May 2010
Planeta Caracol Radio interview

Press contact: +573135374990

Team of The Whitley Fund for Nature and finalists of The Whitley Awards 2010.

The Aotus project at The Whitley Awards

Short documentary of the Aotus project presented by David Attenborough at The Whitley Awards 2010.

International Primate Protection League's biennia conference, Summerville, South Carolina, USA

Oral presentation of "Tackling the illegal trade in night monkeys: Challenges and opportunities in the Colombian-Peruvian Amazon".

21st International Congress of Primatology, Edinburgh, Scotland

Oral presentation of "Assessing the impact of hunting on harvest-sensitive primates withing protected areas and indigenous land in the Southern Colombian Amazon".

Professor Akisato Nishimura, world-renowned expert in woolly monkey behaviour, at IPS 2008.

Congreso Colombiano de Primatologia, Bogotá, Colombia

Oral presentation of "Conservación de Primates en la Amazonía Colombiana: Retos y oportunidades".

Learning event on sustainable and responsible tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank, Washington, USA

Oral presentation.

Estrategia Nacional para el Control y Prevención del Tráfico Ilegal de Primates No-Humanos, Medellín, Colombia

Oral presentation of "Diversidad de Primates en Colombia".

Inauguration of the Maloka in San Martín de Amacayacu, Amazonas, Colombia

The Entropika team was invited to attend the inauguration of the maloka, the traditional communal home.

Peter Bunyard speaks at Universidad Nacional, Leticia, Colombia

Peter Bunyard, scientific editor of "The Ecologist", was invited at the "Fronteras en la Globalizacion" where he gave a talk on the theme of climate change and the effect of over-development and exploitation of resources on the forest’s ability to maintain its function as our planet’s most important oxygen producer.

The Ecologist article, 24th August 2009

2nd Congress of the European Federation for Primatology, Prague, Czech Republic

Poster presentation of "Assessing the impact of hunting on harvest-sensitive primates within protected areas and indigenous lands in the Colombian Amazon".

The Spirits of the Forest at The Living Rainforest, Newbury, UK

Photographic exhebition exploring the traditional belief of the existence of spiritual guardians of the Amazon Rainforest.

20th International Congress of Primatology, Entebbe, Uganda

Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Angela Maldonado talking about Neotropical primate conservation at lake Victoria.