I read a really distressing article today about a National Park right next to Manu in the Peruvian jungle.

Illegal loggers have taken over the entire area which is only accessible by plane or boat.

They are killing natives, forcing them out of their isolated communities and decimating the wildlife and forest.

The wood they are logging is mahogany and the landowners in this area get paid around $30 for a mature tree.

On the international market the same tree can fetch several thousand dollars.

The article was accompanied by a gruesome picture of a Jaguar being skinned, its pelt again destined for the market outside of Peru.

The Peruvian government seems to think that designating an area as a National Park everything becomes magically protected.

The only real reason that Manu has survived is because of investment from Europe and North America.

It is tragic to think that there are no-go areas in Peru where the environment in being treated as a bottomless pit of riches, unfortunately the next government here looks destined to do even less in the way of protection.