Help Peruvian Palaeontologists build a Fossil Preparation Lab!

  • CHF1,772.00
    raised of CHF25,000.00 goal
7% Funded
20 Donors
Time left
92 12 30
You only have the opportunity to donate to this campaign before Wednesday Jun 28, 11:59 pm UTC
Show less

English:

Over the past 20 years, palaeontology in Peru has gained increasing attention from the scientific and general public due to the large number of new species discovered in the country, as well as the high quality of preservation of most specimens. The newfound appreciation to Peru's paleontological heritage is largely due to the creation of the Vertebrate Palaeontology Department at the Natural History Museum of Lima which gave the institutional scaffold needed to support scientific research, outreach, and has guaranteed the preservation of fossils for future generations.

The fossil collection of the Vertebrate Paleontology Department in Lima now houses more than 60 holotypes (i.e., the specimen which serves as the basis for describing a new species), including birds, crocodiles, pinnipeds, cetaceans, sloths, and more. Among the most remarkable discoveries in Peru are giant marine predators (e.g., Livyatan melvillei), penguins with preserved feathers (i.e., Inkayacu paracasensis), four-legged whales (e.g., Peregocetus pacificus), and semi-aquatic marine sloths (Thalassocnus spp.). With an active research lab, the growth of the collection has been exponential, which as exciting and positive as this is, it has also raised many challenges. Because most of our research deals with large vertebrates such as marine mammals and crocodiles, space availability is one of our most limited resources.

Indeed, due to the limited space available for the fossil collection, we were forced to relocate our preparation lab (originally located in the same space than the fossil collection) to a temporary location that lacks most of the necessary infrastructure. This is the reason why we need your assistance! We are raising money to build a space for a preparation lab, so we can carry out our ongoing research projects and continue with our mission of rescuing and studying Peruvian's paleontological record.

We sincerely appreciate any contribution you can make and send our best wishes your way.

Thank you,

Español:

Durante los últimos 20 años, la paleontología en el Perú ha llamado la atención del público científico y general debido a la gran cantidad de nuevas especies que se han descubierto en nuestro país, así como a la cantidad y calidad de preservación de la mayoría de los especímenes. Gracias a la fundación del Departamento de Paleontología de Vertebrados en el Museo de Historia Natural de Lima, el patrimonio paleontológico del Perú ha recibido una nueva apreciación.

La colección del Departamento de Paleontología de Vertebrados ahora contiene más de 60 holotipos (es decir, el espécimen que sirve como base para describir una nueva especie) de varios vertebrados, incluidas aves, cocodrilos, pinnípedos, cetáceos y más. Algunas de los animales descubiertos en nuestro país incluyen depredadores marinos gigantes como el Livyatan melvillei, pingüinos con plumas preservadas como el Inkayacu paracasensis, ballenas de cuatro patas como el Peregocetus pacificus y perezosos marinos semi acuáticos como Thalassocnus natans. Con un laboratorio de investigación tan activo, el crecimiento de la colección ha sido exponencial lo cual es emocionante y positivo, pero también ha generado nuevos retos. Dado que gran parte de nuestra investigación es con vertebrados grandes, como mamíferos marinos y cocodrilos, la disponibilidad de espacio es uno de los mayores retos.

Debido al espacio limitado disponible para la colección de fósiles, nos vimos obligados a trasladar nuestro laboratorio de preparación a una ubicación temporal que carecía de la mayor parte de la infraestructura necesaria. ¡Esta es la razón por la que necesitamos tu ayuda! Estamos recaudando fondos para la construcción de un área de preparación de fósiles que nos permita llevar a cabo nuestros proyectos de investigación en curso y continuar con nuestra misión de rescate y estudio del patrimonio paleontológico del Perú.

Agradecemos sinceramente cualquier contribución que puedan hacer para lograr este objetivo y enviamos los mejores deseos.

Gracias,

Rewards

Add your name to the plate

We will add your name to the personalized metal plate of our lab, including the names of everyone who contributed in this tier

Fundraising Team

  • Rodolfo Salas-gismondi
  •  
  • Comanagement
  •  
  • Lima, PE

Head of the Vertebrate Paleontology Department of the Museum of Natural History, Lima

Head of the Vertebrate Paleontology Department of the Museum of Natural History, Lima

  • Rafael Varas-malca
  •  
  • Associate
  • Julia Tejada
  •  
  • Associate

Donors

  • Travis Park
  • Donated on Mar 23, 2023
  • Good luck! These fossils deserve a great lab!

CHF50.00
  • Daniel Ksepka
  • Donated on Mar 17, 2023
  • This is a great project, I wish you all the very best. It has been a long time since I visited Lima, but I remember the spectacular fossils and those lunches at Chio!

CHF200.00
  • Giulia Bosio
  • Donated on Mar 14, 2023
CHF50.00

No updates for this campaign just yet

Donors & Comments

20 donors
  • Travis Park
  • Donated on Mar 23, 2023
  • Good luck! These fossils deserve a great lab!

CHF50.00
  • Daniel Ksepka
  • Donated on Mar 17, 2023
  • This is a great project, I wish you all the very best. It has been a long time since I visited Lima, but I remember the spectacular fossils and those lunches at Chio!

CHF200.00
  • Giulia Bosio
  • Donated on Mar 14, 2023
CHF50.00
  • Matthieu Carré
  • Donated on Mar 12, 2023
  • You found and prepared some of the most amazing fossils in the world. You deserve a real prep lab! Best wishes

CHF100.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Mar 10, 2023
CHF40.00
  • LLOYD GUTHRIE
  • Donated on Mar 07, 2023
CHF50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 03, 2023
CHF7.00
  • Wesley Davies
  • Donated on Mar 02, 2023
CHF30.00
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 02, 2023
CHF15.00
Show more donors

Followers

8 followers
Reinout Verbeke
Sarah Butler
Eli Amson
Olivier Lambert
Jo Holden Parker
Enzo Ouaki
James Goedert
CHF1,772.00
raised of CHF25,000.00 goal
7% Funded
20 Donors
Time left
92 12 30

You only have the opportunity to donate to this campaign before Wednesday Jun 28, 11:59 pm UTC

Not Ready to Donate?

Did you know a 10 second Facebook share raises an average of CHF25?

Share on Facebook