Erin Skoczylas

Photojournalist

The Peruvian Amazon

The Peruvian Amazon

Two children from the local Chino village canoe home. In the Lower Amazon Basin, canoes are often the only source of transport.

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Milky Way Over the Amazon

Without light pollution, the Amazon sky is illuminated with the Milky Way pouring over the Amazon Rainforest.

All villages have football teams. These soccer players pose after a game in the village.

All villages have football teams. These soccer players pose after a game in the village.

A common business in isolated areas are illegal trafficking exotic birds and parrots are and sold as exotic pets.

A common business in isolated areas are illegal trafficking exotic birds and parrots are and sold as exotic pets.

Indigenous Trans Woman

A trans woman poses for a portrait. Due to colonization, many indigenous people hold traditional beliefs about myths in the Amazon combined with a catholic beleifs. Due to this, LGBTQ people are often ostricised in local communities.

Gerson, a local guide for tourists in the jungle, canoes towards one of the oldest trees in the Tahuyao basin in search for the "Shanshu" bird, otherwise known as the Hoatzin bird.

Gerson, a local guide for tourists in the jungle, canoes towards one of the oldest trees in the Tahuyao basin in search for the "Shanshu" bird, otherwise known as the Hoatzin bird.

Owl Monkeys

Owl Monkeys are a good indicator of clean enviroments and Malaria free areas. They are useful for locals to track because they are usually the first to die when Malaria is Present.

In the dry season, water levels lower making access to smaller tributaries.

In the dry season, water levels lower making access to smaller tributaries.

Shaman Holds Ayahuasca

A shaman holds his own creation of ayahuasca in his home in the Chino village.

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew with hallucinogenic properties native to the Amazon. It has many components, the main ingredients being the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine, and the Psychotria viridis.

The rise in ayahuasca over the past decade has brought many tourists to Peru and other Parts of the Amazon, drawing much business for locals to pretending to act as Shamans and creating a black market for tourism.

Shaman Treats American Tourist

Eddy, an American tourist, visits the local white shaman in a village to receive natural treatment for chronic stress.

Shamon apprentices are growing smaller in number, as many kids hope to go to the main land in Iquitos or later to Lima to receive higher education. Due to the smaller number, shamons often trade information by speaking with eachother. Some shamons speak up to several different languages to communicate with other tribes.

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The river serves as a source of life for people. It works as the fishing grounds, playing, bathing area.

Although the river is swimming with predators such as pirana and electric eels, children grow up with a quick awareness to the river and its dangers. As it is a way of life in the jungle, people live in harmony with the River.

The river serves as a source of life for people. It works as the fishing grounds, playing, bathing area.

Although the river is swimming with predators such as pirana and electric eels, children grow up with a quick awareness to the river and its dangers. As it is a way of life in the jungle, people live in harmony with the River.

Instead of four seasons, the Amazon is divided into rainy seasons, and dry seasons.

Instead of four seasons, the Amazon is divided into rainy seasons, and dry seasons.

The winner of a local beauty contest "Miss Chino" poses for a picture in the community hall center.

The winner of a local beauty contest "Miss Chino" poses for a picture in the community hall center.

Aguaje Harvest

Aguaje is a fruit that comes from palm trees growing all over different parts of the Amazon. It is known for having high amounts of estrogen.

As a myth, it is a superfruit for woman. In the local villages of Peru, some boys will tease eachother for turning woman like for consuming aguaje.

Worker Rests

A worker stops for rest while carrying piles of cement to build a cement school in his village. Annual floods destroy many houses and schools that block kids from learning.

There are hopes a cement infrastructure will outstand the floods for a school that will be open in the rainy season.

Worker Carries Cement

Large bags of Cement come in from a boat in iquitos. locals carry the bags to higher dry ground in order to build a school for the children.

Local Hospital in Esperanza

A local clinic sews a wound from a local villeger who split his head while playing soccer.

There is one clinic located in the Tahuayo basin. Often children and local people that have seriousness illnesses have to make a long journey to the city of Iquitos to see a doctor.

Suri- The Amazonian Delicacy

Llacko eats Suri at a market in Iquitos. Suri is a type of Larvae of the Palm Weevil that lives in the Aguaje Palm Tree in the Amazon, feeding off of the sap. It can be eaten alive, or fried, and locals often compare the grubs taste to coconuts as a delicacy.

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An armored catfish as leftovers for lunch and the catch of the day.

An armored catfish as leftovers for lunch and the catch of the day.

Man becomes engulfed with smoke while burning bamboo.

Man becomes engulfed with smoke while burning bamboo.

A mother nurses her new born child. On her baby's wrists are local beans known as "huayruro" she also sells to tourists. This is her way of making an income for her family.

A mother nurses her new born child. On her baby's wrists are local beans known as "huayruro" she also sells to tourists. This is her way of making an income for her family.

Artisian crafts.

Artisian crafts.

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Tourist companies use ecotourism practices to reintroduce abused animals into the wild.

Tourist companies use ecotourism practices to reintroduce abused animals into the wild.