Deep in the heart of the Bolivian jungle an animal conservation worker wanders through the undergrowth flanked by a wild jaguar.

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But this is not the prelude to a horrific attack, rather an unorthodox technique used by passionate volunteers who go to extraordinary lengths to save these often doomed animals.

The Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a unique animal rescue centre where locals and volunteers help to rehabilitate animals through direct contact.

Rescuing wild animals such as monkeys, birds, pumas, and jaguars from Bolivia’s black market or abusive situations, CIWY’s goals is to readapt the animals and, when possible, to release some of them within the Parque Ambue Ari.

Located in the central-Bolivian region of Santa Cruz, CIWY’s 1,991-acre jungle compound has become recognised as one of the world’s leading and most controversial animal rescue centres.

“We get the animals from all across Bolivia and the border with Peru,” said Karen Peter, a 45-year-old volunteer who has been stationed at CIWY for two years.

“The illegal trade and purchasing of exotic cats such as Jaguars is an increasing problem in Bolivia.

“We trawl the back street markets and set up phoney deals just to get our hands on cats that have fallen into the wrong homes or hands.

“Sometimes it is just people who thought that they would make a good pet, when of course they do not.

“The trade is poorly enforced by the authorities in Bolivia and that is where we step in to correct this poor management.”

Each day, live-in volunteers walk these predatory felines, some weighing as much as 260 pounds, on a leash through the jungle.

“When the animals are brought to our preserve in Ambue Ari they are initially put into a 40 day quarantine.

“There are 26 animals currently on our preserve, including Ocelots and Pumas.

“At the moment we have six jaguars.

“The animals are kept in separate large cages and are assigned volunteers to rehabilitate them.

“They are walked around outside their cage by a minimum of two volunteers at one time and a maximum of three.

“Each jaguar spends up to seven or eight hours outside the cage a day to readjust them to a semi-wild existence.

“It must be remembered that some of the animals have never spent any time in the wild and are totally dependent on humans for their lead and food.

“The Jaguars are all under the age of ten and we have three boys and one girl.

“There is one Jaguar who is never walked on account of his upbringing and that is Sama, who is ten.

“Nearly all of the animals will stay in the preserve as they do not have the skills.”

Founded by Juan Carlos Antezana in 1996, the Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi began as a 93-acre jungle reserve for monkeys rescued from homes and markets.

Located on the fringes of the town of Villa Tunari, the centre is now made up of three sanctuaries that cover 1,991-acres, where up to 40 volunteers are on site to care for the multitude of animals.

Over the past 13 years, CIWY has rescued thousands of animals, and it opened a third park this summer.

Largely funded by volunteers and private donations, the organisation does not receive monetary support from the Bolivian government. But the centre organisers say animals seized by government raids often end up in their care.

In 2006, Antezana was chosen as one of five passionate conservationists featured in Animal Planet’s Jane Goodall’s Heroes, and received $5,000 (£2,900) to continue his work.

Yet despite the dangers faced by the staff at the CIWY, Karen Peter is eager to point out that safety for both the animals and the volunteers are paramount.

“The volunteers are fully trained in understanding the danger signs from the Jaguars – we have never had a volunteer seriously injured,” said Karen.

“Ears pricked up, wide eyes and a wagging tail are all signs to give the calm signal to the jaguar.

“The calm signal is to say ‘tranquilo’ in Spanish and therefore instruct the jaguar to relax.”

“We have never had an unfortunate accident and we don’t intend to.

“The volunteers walk round with the cats for the animal’s safety.

“The illegal traders know we keep around 30 animals here and they would love to come and steal them. Walking with the volunteers stops this from happening.”

Words by Jack Fletcher

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