Man Lost in Amazon Survives—Thanks to Monkeys

Lost tourist says monkeys dropped fruit, led him to shelter during nine days in the rainforest. He’d vanished without a trace from a camp just before a scheduled guided hike.

Monkeys aren’t just cute human-like creatures known for throwing poo. They can be life saviors. Maykool Coroseo Acuña claims a group of helpful monkeys kept him alive after getting lost in the Bolivian Amazon rainforest in early 2017. When he was found after nine days, delirious from exhaustion and covered in bites, he reported following a group of monkeys. The monkeys dropped food in front of him and guided him through the jungle. He also claimed they led him to shelter and water. A tour guide believes Maykool was punishment for not participating in a prayer ceremony before entering the jungle.

Did you know?

1. The tour company, Max Adventures, had not reported a disappearance in 15 years before Maykool Coroseo Acuña.
2. Madidi National Park, where Acuña was staying, has been declared the most diverse place on earth.
   
3. The park is home to 11% of the world’s bird species, in addition to 200 species of mammals, 300 kinds of fish and 12,000 types of plants.
4. Both spider and howler monkeys make Madidi National Park their home – maybe they helped the lost traveler.
5. Before venturing into the jungle, most guides lead guests in a Pachamama ceremony to thank the rainforest for safe passage.
6. Police and rangers investigating Acuña’s disappearance brought in two shamans to try and connect with his soul to bring him back.
7. An Israeli traveler, Yossi Ghinsberg, was lost in the same jungle for three weeks in 1981; a movie of his adventure is in the works.

Sources:

• National Geographic: Lost Tourist Says Monkeys Saved Him in the Amazon
• Live Science: Bolivian Park Declared One of Most Diverse Places on Earth
• Green Tracks: Madidi National Park Fauna
• Ayahuasca in Peru: Offering to Pachamama
• Wikipedia: Yossi Ghinsberg