Today was my first day of fieldwork for my research project, and I was really excited. My first task is to characterize the squirrel monkeys’ sleeping sites by collecting data such as the height of the trees they sleep in, the distance between them, and their proximity to human settlements or water sources. I also need to record their locations using a GPS.
For this first outing, Daniela accompanied me to two sleeping sites to gather all this data. I wasn’t sure what to expect—I imagined these sites would be deep in the forest, difficult to reach. Instead, to my surprise, the ones we visited (and apparently many others) were actually close to roads or inhabited areas, making them much more accessible than I had thought. I had brought a lot more equipment than I actually needed, but I think I’ll gradually learn what is truly necessary.
An interesting part of the day was interacting with the landowners where the sleeping sites are located. Everyone was extremely kind and welcoming. The only challenge is the language: most people here speak only Spanish. I can understand a little, but for now, I mostly just listen and don’t have many opportunities to engage in conversations.
Overall, this first experience was incredibly exciting. I’m eager to explore more sleeping sites and, most of all, to finally spot some wildlife in the forest!
About Althea
Originally from Ticino, she has been passionate about animals since childhood, leading her to pursue a career in wildlife research. She is now conducting her master’s thesis in Costa Rica with the Saimiri Foundation. Under the guidance of Costa Rican primatologist Daniela Solano, Althea is studying the sleeping sites of squirrel monkeys. This is her first fieldwork experience, and she is eager to gain hands-on knowledge while contributing to conservation efforts.
