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Eye on Peru one hour episodes
Episode 1: Jungle Worlds
Nearly three quarters of Peru is covered by tropical rainforest … and the best starting point for an exploration of this vast sea of green is Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. Dos, Bertie and Femke travel deep into this jungle world of rivers, lakes and swamps under the guidance of Dario, an ex-hunter and tracker who has found a way to communicate with many of the forest creatures. With the help of this extraordinary man they explore upper reaches of the Heath River and make close encounters with capuchin monkeys, macaws, caiman and the elusive giant river otter.
To find out more about the problems facing Peru’s rainforests, Dos then joins an expedition mounted by Biologist Stefan Austermühle deep into the cloud forests of central Peru. The aim of the research is to get a first measure of the bio-diversity of this remote and little known highland rainforest. Shunning flesh-eating fish and poisonous stingrays, Dos and the team are the first to dive its rivers and pools… exploring its crystal clear waters and encountering a number of fish new to science.
But the most exquisite of Peru’s jungle worlds is the Manu National Park, whose million and a half hectares of pristine rainforest make it one of the richest and diverse tropical rainforests in the world. Dos, Bertie and Femke travel to Manu in search of the Machiguenga people who have lived in these forests for generations.
At the community of Huacaria, the people are looking to bridge the traditional and modern worlds by developing a judicious mix of commercial and subsistence agriculture. Self-sufficiency has allowed the community to minimise its dependence on the outside market economy, while the coffee and cocoa grown as cash crops gives them sufficient income to buy in a few goods not found locally.
Dos is taken into the confidence of the local shaman who is working hard to keep alive their old customs. He believes that the future of these forests lies in finding a way for the upcoming younger generations to integrate the traditions of the past with the needs of the future.
Episode 2: Water Worlds
This episode explores two of Peru’s unique water worlds: the coastal wonderland lining its 2,500 mile desert shore and the frigid waters of South America’s highest body of water – mysterious Lake Titicaca.
The coastal desert of southern Peru has a special beauty all its own. Dos travels to the Paracas Peninsula, which despite receiving recent protection as a Marine National Park is still very much under pressure. Overfishing and guano mining are leaving their marks and the recent arrival of tourism is threatening wildlife. Dos goes diving with a local fisherman, whose intimate knowledge of these marine waters is leading to the development of sustainable fishing practises for the area.
Dos then journeys north, along the most remote and dramatic shoreline of Peru, 100 miles from the nearest human settlement. Against a stark desert backdrop of fossil beds and sand dunes, the sea teams with life – and is home to sea lion, turtles, and dolphin. But this forgotten paradise is now under threat of facing the same pressures affecting Paracas – a major port and oil terminal to the north is causing disturbance and local fishermen are butchering dolphin. Dos finds their mutilated bodies washed up on the beach.
To finish, Dos travels high into the Peruvian Alti Plano, to Lake Titicaca, a place of mystery and legend – reputedly the birthplace of the Inca civilisation. Here far from the usual tourist haunts, the team dive its icy waters, in search of a mysterious frog with unique aquatic habit – it lives permanently underwater, never surfacing to breathe. With the help of a local fisherman Dos finds the frogs and learns of the special relevance they have for the traditional inhabitants of this magical lake.
Eye on Peru half-hours
Episode 1: Dario — Animal Caller
Dos, Bertie and Femke travel deep into the lowland rainforests of South Eastern Peru under the guidance of Dario — an ex-hunter and tracker who has found a way to communicate with many of the forest creatures. With the help of this extraordinary man and the bizarre sounds he makes, the group unlock some of the secrets of this mysterious world and make close encounters with, amongst others — Capuchin Monkeys, Macaws, Caiman and Giant River Otters.
Episode 2: Manu — Living Eden
With over a million and half hectares of mostly unspoiled wilderness, the Manu National park is recognised as the richest and most diverse tropical rainforest in the world. For generations it has also been home to the Machiguenga people. Dos, Bertie and Femke stay in a community on the edge of the Manu. After being taken into the confidence of the local shaman they learn how the Machiguenga are fighting to balance their age-old customs and beliefs with the increasing pressures of modern life.
Episode 3: Yanachaga — Jungle Secrets
Dos joins a scientific expedition on a gruelling journey into the untouched cloud forests of central Peru. The goal of the study is to get a first measure of the biodiversity of this remote and little known highland rainforest. Shunning flesh-eating fish and poisonous stingrays, Dos and the team are the first to dive its rivers and pools… exploring its crystal clear waters and encountering a number of fish new to science.
Episode 4: Titicaca — Sacred Frog
Lake Titicaca, high on the Peruvian Alti Plano is a place of mystery and legend - reputedly the birthplace of the Inca civilisation. Here far from the usual tourist haunts, the team dive its icy waters, in search of a mysterious frog with unique aquatic habit — it lives permanently underwater, never surfacing to breathe. With the help of a local fisherman Dos finds the frogs and learns of the special relevance they has for the traditional inhabitants of this magical lake.
Episode 5: Coast — Fragile Paradise
A journey along the most remote and dramatic shoreline of Peru, 200 miles from the nearest human settlement. Against a stark desert backdrop of fossil beds and sand dunes, the sea teams with life - and is home to sea lion, turtles, and dolphin. The coastal desert of southern Peru has a special beauty all its own. Dos travels to the Paracas Peninsula which despite receiving recent protection as a Marine National Park is still very much under pressure. Dos goes below the surface here, diving its rich marine waters with local fishermen.
View a selection of Dos Winkel's photographs shot on eye on's recent expedition in Kenya.
For further information please contact:
Ton Okkerse
ton.okkerse@emsfilms.com