Encountering Wildlife in the Amazon Rainforest, with Liezl Shnookal

Aerial view of Peru's Amazon River Basin and rainforest.

One of the greatest highlights of my entire life was travelling into the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest in 2017. From the moment I flew over the vast Amazon River Basin, I knew that I was about to experience something truly unforgettable.

Amazonian Caiman hidden in dense rainforest vegetation.

As I stepped into the dense rainforest, I spotted my first Amazonian Caiman hiding among the jungle vegetation.

Pair of South American Brush Turkeys in rainforest.

I couldn’t help laughing at a pair of South American Brush Turkeys, another unexpected sight.

Giant Amazon tarantula on forest floor.

I was shocked by the size of this giant Amazon tarantula — the largest spider I’ve ever seen.

Crimson-crested Woodpecker with bright red head high up in a Amazon Rainforest tree.

I wish I’d captured the loud calls of this Crimson-crested Woodpecker echoing through the Peruvian Rainforest.

Southern Tamandua (Amazon anteater) carrying baby through the Amazon rainforest.

I was incredibly lucky to spot a Southern Tamandua (Amazon anteater) with its baby onboard.

Two Cabybaras standing on the edge of a riverbank.

Capybaras — the world’s largest rodent — were relaxing along the riverbank, as I passed by in a boat. They're the size of a wombat!

Colourful macaws gathering at Amazon claylick.

From a bird hide deep in the rainforest, I watched colourful macaws gather at a claylick — a truly magical experience.

Giant River Otters feeding on piranhas in Amazon River.

What I loved most of all was watching the endangered Giant River Otters as they feasted on piranhas for breakfast.

The back view of Giant River Otters as they swim away down the Amazon River.

After several hours of hunting along the Amazon River, the otters swam off with full bellies.

Giant Waxy Tree Frog in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, with its mouth wide open.

Seeing such incredible wildlife in Peru’s Amazon Rainforest really hit home to me how vital it is to protect the whole fragile ecosystem and its incredible biodiversity.

Liezl Shnookal standing in front of the base of an immense tree in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru.

Yet in Brazil, relentless logging and burning continue to devastate the rainforest on a massive scale. In March 2020, the brutal murder of the fifth Forest Guardian in Brazil’s Amazon underscored the grave risks faced by those fighting to save this precious land. Click Guardians of the Amazon to learn how you can help protect the rainforest and its wildlife.