I am Peruvian biologist from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú, where I graduated in 2007.
I got interested in primates early in my career thanks to the mentorship of Prof. Rolando Aquino and Prof. Eckhard W. Heymann. Since then, I have carried out research on primates and big mammals, focusing on diversity, hunting sustainability and ecological studies; and also conservation activities to protect forests and raise public awareness for Peruvian primates, mainly for the critically endangered Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) and the endangered Andean Night Monkey (Aotus miconax). Recently, I have conducted research on the black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) conservation status and behavioral ecology in Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar.
I am a member of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and Vice Chair of the Andean Region. I am also part of the Non-Profit NGO Yunkawasi, where we designed a long term primate conservation education program that has been carried in Peru’s Tropical Andes since 2008 and has involved over ten thousand school children from rural areas. We have also supported the creation and establishment of the Community Area of Conservation Hierba Buena – Allpayacu for the Campesino Community of Corosha, and I am also part of the scientific team of the Private Area of Conservation Huiquilla.
Since Peru is one of the most primate diverse countries of the world, one of my major interests is boosting primatology in Peru and encouraging Peruvian students to be involved in conservation and research activities. This is why in 2011 I teamed up with Eckhard W. Heymann and Fanny Fernández-Melo and organized the 1st Meeting of Primatology in Peru in Lima, Peru. In 2013 we held the 2nd Meeting of Primatology in Peru in Iquitos, Peru, with the participation of over 200 students and professionals. In 2015, we held the 3rd Meeting of Primatology in Peru in the city of Puerto Maldonado, where we presented the Pocket Guide of Monkeys of Peru, and founded the Peruvian Society of Primatologists. In 2017, we organized the 1st Congress of the Peruvian Society of Primatologists, which was a huge success. Since 2015, I serve as President of this society.
My graduate mentors are Prof. Patricia C. Wright and Prof. Liliana Davalos. My dissertation research is focused on the evolutionary history of night monkey Aotus. My research greatly benefits from my dissertation committee members Prof. Patricia C. Wright, Prof. Liliana Dávalos, Prof. Liliana Cortés and Prof. John Fleagle.
My dissertation research is supported (so far) by:
All samples for my dissertation research have been obtained under the research permit #107-2017-SERFOR/DGGSPFFS and exported to the US under CITES permit PE001762/SP. All permits have been provided by SERFOR/Ministerio de Agricultura y Riego of Peru.