Junglekeepers Protects 160,000 Amazon Acres as Drug Traffickers Escalate Violence

Junglekeepers, the nonprofit led by American naturalist Paul Rosolie, now protects 160,000 acres of the Peruvian Amazon. The figure marks a massive leap from the 49,000 acres secured just a year ago. Rosolie, who first set foot in the Madre de Dios region at 18, has spent two decades pivoting from wildlife exploration to aggressive land conservation.

The expansion mirrors the organization’s core strategy: buy land, hire locals, and patrol. Rangers now earn salaries to monitor the Las Piedras watershed, a biodiversity hotspot under constant siege. The work is expensive. Operating costs cover boats, fuel, communications gear, and ranger stations. It is a logistical war against illegal logging, gold mining, and road expansion.

But the threats have shifted. In a February 2026 interview with Mongabay, Rosolie detailed the danger posed by organized drug trafficking groups. The organization faced an armed vehicle ambush targeting conservation leaders. This violence forced Junglekeepers to deepen ties with Peruvian law enforcement. Rangers cannot fight cartels alone.

The stakes are rising. In January 2026, Junglekeepers launched its 'End Game' campaign to secure another 50,000 acres at risk. The group aims for a total of 300,000 acres across the Las Piedras corridor. Rosolie acknowledges the personal and financial sacrifices required to keep the forest standing. The next phase depends on securing funds to outpace the encroaching criminal networks.