The northern Rupununi has intrigued explorers, travelers, historians, and scientists for centuries, dating back to Sir Walter Raleigh s search for the mythical El Dorado. But for the past three decades this extraordinary region, with its breathtaking landscape and astonishing wildlife, has been out of the public eye. Rupununi Rediscovering a Lost World inspires WWF and other conservation agencies to continue their work to protect the global environment. It also reminds us that we need to be ever vigilant if we are to overcome the threats that confront humanity so that we can bequeath to our children a lasting legacy.

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About the Authors

Pete Oxford, a British biologist, has lived in Ecuador, South America for the last 21 years. With his South African wife and photographic partner Reneé Bish he has traveled extensively on all continents photographing wildlife and wilderness areas. His images have appeared in National Geographic, International Wildlife, Smithsonian, Geo, BBC Wildlife and Nature's Best among others. He has published six books on Ecuadorian, mostly conservation orientated, subjects with a seventh book on Mongolia in publication. He is on the board of directors of Eco Ecuador which operates the only ecotourist lodge in Ecuador's Yasuni National Park - a true community ecotourism venture working with the Añangu community who are 49% owners. He firmly believes in the old adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words" and believes that before a species, or a habitat, can be truly conserved people must come to know it. Using photography our message transcends cultures, languages, social status and age and even a single image can reach the hearts of a population to influence government decisions.

Graham Watkins is a Guyanese born British biologist who has spent most of his life working in tropical South America, mainly in Guyana and Ecuador. Graham was the Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos from 2005 to 2009 and prior to this, during 2003 and 2004, he was the Director General of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development in Guyana. Graham s professional life includes more than 20 years of experience in ecological research, collaborative wildlife and fisheries management, and sustainable enterprise development in aquaculture, fisheries and tourism. Graham has worked in Guyana for over ten years to ensure the conservation of the North Rupununi Wetlands. Graham has published more than 30 popular and technical articles and books. Dr. Watkins holds a degree in Zoology from St. Catherines College, Oxford in the UK and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Pennsylvania, USA.