The Puma Years: A Memoir of Love and Transformation in the Bolivian Jungle
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- Create Date：2021-05-26 10:19:29
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Laura Coleman
- ISBN：1542022185
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Summary
In this rapturous memoir， writer and activist Laura Coleman shares the story of her liberating journey in the Amazon jungle， where she fell in love with a magnificent cat who changed her life。
Laura was in her early twenties and directionless when she quit her job to backpack in Bolivia。 Fate landed her at a wildlife sanctuary on the edge of the Amazon jungle where she was assigned to a beautiful and complex puma named Wayra。 Wide-eyed， inexperienced， and comically terrified， Laura made the scrappy， make-do camp her home。 And in Wayra， she made a friend for life。
They weren’t alone， not with over a hundred quirky animals to care for， each lost and hurt in their own way: a pair of suicidal， bra-stealing monkeys， a frustrated parrot desperate to fly， and a pig with a wicked sense of humor。 The humans， too， were cause for laughter and tears。 There were animal whisperers， committed staff， wildly devoted volunteers， handsome heartbreakers， and a machete-wielding prom queen who carried Laura through。 Most of all， there was the jungle—lyrical and alive—and there was Wayra， who would ultimately teach Laura so much about love， healing， and the person she was capable of becoming。
Set against a turbulent and poignant backdrop of deforestation， the illegal pet trade， and forest fires， The Puma Years explores what happens when two desperate creatures in need of rescue find one another。
Laura was in her early twenties and directionless when she quit her job to backpack in Bolivia。 Fate landed her at a wildlife sanctuary on the edge of the Amazon jungle where she was assigned to a beautiful and complex puma named Wayra。 Wide-eyed， inexperienced， and comically terrified， Laura made the scrappy， make-do camp her home。 And in Wayra， she made a friend for life。
They weren’t alone， not with over a hundred quirky animals to care for， each lost and hurt in their own way: a pair of suicidal， bra-stealing monkeys， a frustrated parrot desperate to fly， and a pig with a wicked sense of humor。 The humans， too， were cause for laughter and tears。 There were animal whisperers， committed staff， wildly devoted volunteers， handsome heartbreakers， and a machete-wielding prom queen who carried Laura through。 Most of all， there was the jungle—lyrical and alive—and there was Wayra， who would ultimately teach Laura so much about love， healing， and the person she was capable of becoming。
Set against a turbulent and poignant backdrop of deforestation， the illegal pet trade， and forest fires， The Puma Years explores what happens when two desperate creatures in need of rescue find one another。
Reviews
Michelle Roberts
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Hauntingly Heart wrenching！ The ups and downs of Laura's journey kept me awake at night and grasping for ideas on how I could help save the Wildlife。 My perception of Bolivia and the sale of exotic animals will forever be changed and I will now try to "do my part" to help！ Hauntingly Heart wrenching！ The ups and downs of Laura's journey kept me awake at night and grasping for ideas on how I could help save the Wildlife。 My perception of Bolivia and the sale of exotic animals will forever be changed and I will now try to "do my part" to help！ 。。。more
Alfred Nobile
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This was an outstanding book。 The likes of which I've never read before。 It is a memoir， but much more than just than that。 It tells the story of Laura， who tiring of mundane jobs decides to backpack in Bolivia。 Whilst there she comes across a flier that tells her about a wildlife park looking for volunteers and decides to give it s go。 Another way to fill in a few weeks。This is where the story really takes off and Laura finds herself having to put up with hardships and learning to care for wild This was an outstanding book。 The likes of which I've never read before。 It is a memoir， but much more than just than that。 It tells the story of Laura， who tiring of mundane jobs decides to backpack in Bolivia。 Whilst there she comes across a flier that tells her about a wildlife park looking for volunteers and decides to give it s go。 Another way to fill in a few weeks。This is where the story really takes off and Laura finds herself having to put up with hardships and learning to care for wild animals。 Not only wild but damaged in someway。 A book that you learn along with Laura as she faces not only her fears but the fears of the animals she is caring for and trying to understand how they feel。 Laura finds herself caring for a puma named Wyra。 It is a tale caution and learning to trust one another。 A book that teaches you as you read。 It tells the story of hardships， Forest fires， the illegal animal trade。 It tell a tale that makes you angry， sad and despairing of the effect mankind is having on the environment and the natural world。A tale of Laura， the natural world and maybe all is not lost and we can change the path we seem set upon。The writing is of an exceptional quality with not a wasted word and is all tied up in a bundle of food for thought。 Highly recommended！ 。。。more
Nancy M Davis
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Surprisingly Well-Written and EntertainingWhile I would never endure the horrific living conditions of the jungle to make the lives of captured animals better， I admire those that do so。 Like the author， I hope for a world where there are no captured animals that need assistance。 An enjoyable read。
Terri Athey
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FascinatingI could not， would not， ever do what the author did/does but so fascinating to read of the people who choose to do so。
Deena
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I rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but I couldn't pass this one by。 The Puma Years was so compelling and I can't stop thinking about it。 Laura's compassion and dedication to the Parque and its inhabitants is a cause most people could spend a lifetime searching for。 Thank you Laura for sharing your story！ I rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but I couldn't pass this one by。 The Puma Years was so compelling and I can't stop thinking about it。 Laura's compassion and dedication to the Parque and its inhabitants is a cause most people could spend a lifetime searching for。 Thank you Laura for sharing your story！ 。。。more
Paula Glover
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Pure Emotion This is an amazing story that will touch you in many ways。 I admire this woman in so many ways。
Molly
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This needs to be made into a movie 🤷♀️
Cindy L。 Maus
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Wonderful StoryThis is a beautiful， heart wrenching， wonderful story that takes your heart and mind to places I never thought of before。 My thoughts and prayers go out to these every day heroes who do their best for the creatures who come to depend on them， and who share their stories so that we may have an understanding of our world and what we can do to make a difference。
ryan
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A natural love storyA captivating read filled with vivid descriptions of nature and emotion and their meeting in the middle。 A look at the realities of the natural world as affected by humanity， what some brave "crazy" people are doing about it， and how this work affects them emotionally and mentally。 It's not a simple subject with difficult and complex perspectives and responses as variegated and beautiful as the colors of the jungle。 A journey for the mind heart and soul。 A natural love storyA captivating read filled with vivid descriptions of nature and emotion and their meeting in the middle。 A look at the realities of the natural world as affected by humanity， what some brave "crazy" people are doing about it， and how this work affects them emotionally and mentally。 It's not a simple subject with difficult and complex perspectives and responses as variegated and beautiful as the colors of the jungle。 A journey for the mind heart and soul。 。。。more
Kelli
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Read this book！
Kim
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Not normally something I would of read the title caught my eye。 The emotions that this story brought up in me was surprising。。。awe， great sadness， anger， respect and grief。 Well written。。。I need to learn more。
Laura Brown
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This is one of those books you want to leap into and that stays with you。
Jackie Peters
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Remarkable！I wish this was mandatory reading material for all high school students， college students and members of congress， and the United Nations！Thank the heavens for people like Laura and all the volunteers who give so much of themselves to help the animals and people of the Amazon jungle。
Louise P。 Alexander
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I fell in love with Wayra！ I was able see and feel the beauty of the jungle and share the emotions。 I was also completely in love with Wayra and was so caught up in the author’s need to rescue this cat from its fear。 As the owner of a very large cat I rescued as a tiny kitten， I feel better able to understand his sometimes skittish ways and conversely the way he clings to me and adores to be petted and cuddled while ready to flee at any moment。I was also able to cringe at her description of the I fell in love with Wayra！ I was able see and feel the beauty of the jungle and share the emotions。 I was also completely in love with Wayra and was so caught up in the author’s need to rescue this cat from its fear。 As the owner of a very large cat I rescued as a tiny kitten， I feel better able to understand his sometimes skittish ways and conversely the way he clings to me and adores to be petted and cuddled while ready to flee at any moment。I was also able to cringe at her description of the terrible conditions of the parque （I was quite surprised to see the photos of the tidy buildings and paths after reading about it）。 I didn’t know for sure if the story was true until the end！ Seeing the photos at the end was very gratifying。 I can’t decide if it would have been better to see the photos as I was reading。 Thank you for the experience of this amazing story！ 。。。more
debbie crockett
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BoringA very very slow moving story。 I thought it would be better than it was。 Was not impressed with it。
SALLY BISHOP
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After spending a year in Central America in the 80's， I'm still trying to get back！ This book reminded me why I love the jungle。 It's been a long time since a book has made me feel so emotional， the relationship between the author and Wayra is what I long for。 After spending a year in Central America in the 80's， I'm still trying to get back！ This book reminded me why I love the jungle。 It's been a long time since a book has made me feel so emotional， the relationship between the author and Wayra is what I long for。 。。。more
Hillary
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This was my May Kindle Prime book。 It's not the type of book I normally choose。Some of the writing was lovely。 I found the relationship between Laura and Wayra very engaging， if a little repetitive at times。 There is absolutely no way you would find me living in a place like El Parque。 As much as I admire their work and their stamina and dedication， I would not last an hour in the hot， dirty， buggy， smelly place Coleman describes。 She has my respect。The best part for me was seeing all the photos This was my May Kindle Prime book。 It's not the type of book I normally choose。Some of the writing was lovely。 I found the relationship between Laura and Wayra very engaging， if a little repetitive at times。 There is absolutely no way you would find me living in a place like El Parque。 As much as I admire their work and their stamina and dedication， I would not last an hour in the hot， dirty， buggy， smelly place Coleman describes。 She has my respect。The best part for me was seeing all the photos and drawings of the place and the animals at the end of the book。 It was so nice to see them after reading all their stories。 For Coleman， they are her friends and family。 The science？ The eco-politics？ I don't know enough to judge。 It's a very personal book。 。。。more
Nathan Woodberry
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Her whole heart was in itA story of a woman who fell in love with a project and puma that over many years became a dedicated and personal mission。 A heart warming and personal travel that carries the fellow traveler on a dedicated journey。
Aaron Westre
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Longer than it needed to beHer story is very cool but， her use of 10 metaphors per page got really old after the first chapter。 For me， the metaphors and similes added nothing but length to the book。
Jill Kalas
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Amazing storyPeeling away the onion layers by losing yourself at a animal sanctuary。 This book tells of all the trials animals and people go through in this crazy world。
Dell Hilton
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Amazing memoir—fantastic life！
Dave Easton
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The Puma YearsWhat an amazing and heartfelt story。 Laura is such a descriptive writer。 As a reader you are totally drawn into the jungle with her and Wayra。 You can hear and smell all the sights and sounds of her experience。 Thank you for your work and for sharing your story。
Cindy Hoenecke
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Incredible story！I found this book to be an incredible and heroic adventure。 What these people endured over the years caring for these animals。 This book completely drew me in and left me waiting for the next page and the next adventure。 To look back on one's life and know that they made a difference and helped change these animals lives is such an accomplishment we can only hope to do。 It makes me think that maybe humanity isn't that bad after all and that there might just be hope for us yet。 H Incredible story！I found this book to be an incredible and heroic adventure。 What these people endured over the years caring for these animals。 This book completely drew me in and left me waiting for the next page and the next adventure。 To look back on one's life and know that they made a difference and helped change these animals lives is such an accomplishment we can only hope to do。 It makes me think that maybe humanity isn't that bad after all and that there might just be hope for us yet。 Hats off to Laura and her fellow explorers。 I wish I had your courage。 。。。more
Barbara Wolff
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The devotion and passion of those working with the wildlife refuge was very inspiring。 The conditions they had to live and work under made their efforts that much more heroic。
Virginia
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True Story of Love and CompassionEnjoyed this true story of rescuing big cats， monkeys and birds from industrialization in Bolivia。 People think it’s cute to have a jaguar until it grows up。 Unprepared to take care of the animal， they end up in one of only 3 sanctuaries。 I hope this book raises money and awareness to help these sanctuaries。
Anni
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Love， love， love。It's been a while since I've been so enamored of a story， and I won't stop thinking about this anytime soon。 I'm still crying。This might just be the greatest love story I ever a read - the love story of a woman and a puma。 It's also an ode to the jungle and its animals， the people fighting to protect them， the environment。。。 It's a powerful call to action。Incredibly， it felt like I was right there in the jungle， with the horrendous parasites， flesh-eating bacteria， fungal infect Love， love， love。It's been a while since I've been so enamored of a story， and I won't stop thinking about this anytime soon。 I'm still crying。This might just be the greatest love story I ever a read - the love story of a woman and a puma。 It's also an ode to the jungle and its animals， the people fighting to protect them， the environment。。。 It's a powerful call to action。Incredibly， it felt like I was right there in the jungle， with the horrendous parasites， flesh-eating bacteria， fungal infections， swarms of mosquitoes， scurrying rats， long drop toilets。。。 This book took me on an adventure of a lifetime， and it made my entire body ache with feeling so much。On a personal level， it spoke to me of all those times I've felt lost， travelled by myself in a strange country， experienced things that are hard to put into words， feeling crazy， the times I've had to say hard goodbyes and leave places I've fallen in love with。Heartbreaking， funny and beautiful （yet describing the amazingly ugly bits too）， all at the same time。 And incredibly important。 This left me feeling hopeless but also a bit hopeful， and I hope this story will reach many people。 Also， the profits from this book will go on to support the sanctuary ❤️ 。。。more
Alison F。
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Not as funny as I hoped， rather sad and self-involved。 Could have used more context on wildlife trafficking， deforestation， and climate change in South America。
karen logar
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A Five Star readThe Puma Years was one of the best memoirs I have ever read。 It was an engaging read as well as an inspiration。 As one who is deeply concerned about life on this planet， I found both great joy and profound sorrow in learning about the lives of the precious animals in the sanctuary。 Certainly， Wayra will stay in my heart and mind。 Thank you Ms Coleman for sharing your life's work。 A Five Star readThe Puma Years was one of the best memoirs I have ever read。 It was an engaging read as well as an inspiration。 As one who is deeply concerned about life on this planet， I found both great joy and profound sorrow in learning about the lives of the precious animals in the sanctuary。 Certainly， Wayra will stay in my heart and mind。 Thank you Ms Coleman for sharing your life's work。 。。。more
Vicki Mitchell
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I loved this book so much ！ It was very descriptive and made my feel like I was right there in the jungle with the animals ， I wish I could meet Wayra - she sounds so beautiful - I was glad for the pictures in the book
Terry Mach
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