In today’s post, our last post of 2022. As I sit in my desk thinking about this year that is ending and the new year that starts in almost a week from now. This past year, we didn’t have as many fieldtrips as we expected, but we still were able to see squirrel monkeys having their babies in February, capuchin monkeys playing with their babies in April and rediscovering the nest of a Brumback’s night monkeys.

We also started a new project to find out if native wildlife use water sources used to supply water for cattle’s, we will give you more news of this collaborative study with Onca Foundation in the following post of 2023, for now let’s just say that as always, this incredible, transformed landscape give us more surprises than we will expect, some of which are just unbelievable!!!! More soon…

This year also make me wonder of what much we still don’t know about productive systems that seems to still conserve a high diversity even though it is evident they have a high impact on biodiversity. How much we really know about species movement and what make that a place has certain animals for some years and then without no apparent reason new animals arrives…

I guess this is one of the reasons why I had persisted so long in the same area, because there are always more questions than answers, despite of being a productive system with all the impact that productive activities have on wildlife. Let’s hope the new year bring some answers and if you are interested in support, help, or participate in any of the research activities we do in the next year, please don’t hesitate to send a message to xcarretero@gmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you who have read my blog over this year, hope to see you visiting and sharing more Zocay Project stories with you in 2023…

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In today’s post we are starting our reflections on 2022 lessons, which are not only personal but also part of our growth in Zocay Project. This year started with some surprises that once again teach me that patience and persistence are the best skills if you want to continue doing what you love to do, especially if that implies fieldwork and monkeys!!!
This year started with a bit of a bump; I got sick, however that sickness gave me the opportunity to share with people who I always admire but didn’t have the opportunity before to talk for several days and those conversations lead to new opportunities for me and Zocay Project.
Those opportunities also teach me about the things I still enjoy and don’t enjoy about teaching and how I can take advantage of that knowledge for my future endeavors and may be for new paths and opportunities for Zocay Project.
It also teaches me about how lucky I am of being able to continue looking at the same groups of monkeys after 18 years, and how grateful I feel of the people (professors, students, volunteers, and landowners) who had enrich my career and help me to continue putting a little grain to see those monkeys surviving in a very transformed area. How lucky I am of witness the persistence of those incredible animals that make my life unique every day.
This year also teach me about resilience and the importance of family. How important is to be able to be there when it is need it…But also that not always is easy to be there and you have to be flexible with yourself if that happens and not blame yourself if you can’t.
It also showed that Zocay Project was the right decision for my life and how grateful I am with all the people who had helped me over the years to make this project a reality and to all the people helping me now to continue with this project. I also realized how many skills I learned over the years and specially during my PhD. So, at this point of the year when we make a balance and reflect on the lessons life have teach us during this year I thankful for the people, monkeys and life that I’m able to live and share with others (humans and no humans)…
© Copyright Disclaimer. All pictures used on this web page are protected with copyrights to Xyomara Carretero-Pinzón. If you want to use any of these pictures, please leave a message on the website. Thank you