The Puma Years: A Memoir of Love and Transformation in the Bolivian Jungle
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- Create Date：2021-06-12 07:51:55
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- 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
mrs c kirkpatrick
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Must for animal lovers I loved this books 。 Very heartwarming and at the same time sad knowing what the human race is doing to the planet
Pat
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Loved it！The author describes the animal， the jungle， and the people so vividly， you really feel you are there with her。
su yan har
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As close to the wild as most of us can getThank you thank you thank you。 Best book I read this year， in both writing style and content。 Unfortunately most of us are unwilling to forgo our modern comfort to have these kind of raw nature experiences。 I will read and re-read this book when I want to imagine a puma cleaning my nail with her teeth。
Susan Pope
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What I most loved about this book was its honesty。 Laura Coleman never spared any detail about the dire conditions she encountered working in an animal sanctuary in Bolivia over a period of 20 years。 But the bonds created with the various animals in their care made it not just worthwhile for the volunteers， but life-changing。 She set out to help the animals but it was her connection to the animals， in particular， one puma， which changed Laura。 The narrative is strong with vivid imagery and I fel What I most loved about this book was its honesty。 Laura Coleman never spared any detail about the dire conditions she encountered working in an animal sanctuary in Bolivia over a period of 20 years。 But the bonds created with the various animals in their care made it not just worthwhile for the volunteers， but life-changing。 She set out to help the animals but it was her connection to the animals， in particular， one puma， which changed Laura。 The narrative is strong with vivid imagery and I felt I was there， with her， every step of the way。 Conditions at the park changed over the years， not really for the good， but the need to provide sanctuary for animals denied the right to live their lives in a natural environment never diminished。 This book was intensely moving， powered by a woman who has given her life to the protection of wild animals and done so with a loving heart。 。。。more
Jola
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Review to come。
Robyn Ghafoor
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I'm going to start off by saying this isn't my usual kind of book， non-fiction and memoirs aren't something that would be top of my list， but the beautiful cover enticed me in （my favourite colour and just so evocative）。 I have been speaking the English language for over 30 years on this planet but reading this book it was as if I had never come across it before， it's the most beautifully written book I have ever read。 Laura does to the English language what flowers do to a garden or what a suns I'm going to start off by saying this isn't my usual kind of book， non-fiction and memoirs aren't something that would be top of my list， but the beautiful cover enticed me in （my favourite colour and just so evocative）。 I have been speaking the English language for over 30 years on this planet but reading this book it was as if I had never come across it before， it's the most beautifully written book I have ever read。 Laura does to the English language what flowers do to a garden or what a sunset does to the sky， every simile， metaphor and nuance transported me to a place I would never dream of visiting。 I was a traveller in my younger days but since starting a family of my own I don't get away as much as before and this book was like a small part of me was able to visit without leaving the comfort of my own home。 I absolutely loved to see the transformation of not only Laura but the animals too， particularly Wayra， and it was really gratifying that she made sure to include an update of all the characters （human and animal） that were involved with the parque; as I'm a reader that often has lots of questions at the end of a book， whereas everything was nicely answered。 I have read reviews of people saying that there was too much repetition or not enough happening， I personally felt like that didn't matter as it was so eloquently written。 This was Laura's first book and I really hope it won't be her last as I'm excited to read more by her。 。。。more
Shiloh
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4 stars。 The beginning was a tad slow， but it started to pick up around page 50。 Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book， and would reccomend it。I have a lot of thoughts， mainly positive， that I will compile into a more thorough review soon。
LaVonne Berrysmith
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For me it was a little boring and too many words to describe a moment with trite wording。 I can’t even say that I read any of it with interest。
Misty D Raines
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Eye openingI love reading because I love learning。。。this book opened my eyes to a whole world that I’m not familiar with。 I learned a lot about the social issues occurring in Bolivia and a lot about animals。 It was enjoyable to read， but I did skim large sections。。。because it was a bit too emotional， the author seems to use writing as her emotional outlet and at times it was a bit much。 Enjoyable read overall and much appreciation on this education。
CA Portnellus
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The jungle will sink into your heart and soulExpansive， engaging， sad and joyful， a story of love， service and devotion for a cause。 A life that only a select group of people can do or imagine， amid the rigors of seeking out a way to survive in the jungle and aid animals。 Amazing tales lie in wait among the many days， months and years of Laura Coleman's experience。 I laughed and cried， for the humorous escapades of the animals and felt anger at the cost of such cruelty to animals， the indigenous The jungle will sink into your heart and soulExpansive， engaging， sad and joyful， a story of love， service and devotion for a cause。 A life that only a select group of people can do or imagine， amid the rigors of seeking out a way to survive in the jungle and aid animals。 Amazing tales lie in wait among the many days， months and years of Laura Coleman's experience。 I laughed and cried， for the humorous escapades of the animals and felt anger at the cost of such cruelty to animals， the indigenous and impoverished people and the loss of the jungle。Good Laura is braver than she knows and has created what we can hope will be something to make a difference in today's world。 A harsh reminder of the fate of our world and it’s health and our place in it to be guardians and wise caretakers of it all。 。。。more
Mary
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The most exquisite， beautifully written book I have ever read！Eva Colman， wow！ How she has accomplished what she has， both in and out of the Bolivian jungle is beyond me。 The Puma Years: A Memoir is written so well， the images so painterly that I relished every word！ The dirt and filth of the jungle survival she describes is beyond repellent。 While the magnificent beauty of the forest colors and shapes bring me to my knees in a paradise I never knew existed。 All of that aside， it is the love tha The most exquisite， beautifully written book I have ever read！Eva Colman， wow！ How she has accomplished what she has， both in and out of the Bolivian jungle is beyond me。 The Puma Years: A Memoir is written so well， the images so painterly that I relished every word！ The dirt and filth of the jungle survival she describes is beyond repellent。 While the magnificent beauty of the forest colors and shapes bring me to my knees in a paradise I never knew existed。 All of that aside， it is the love that grows between the rescued Puma， Wayra and the Wildlife Rescue volunteer， Eva， herself that is central in this memoir。 Eva arrived at the Sanctuary unprepared， lost， afraid and a bit in shock。 Wayra had arrived under similar circumstances after her mother was killed for fur trade and she captured to perform on the street。 Both human and cat absolutely terrified， learn to trust ， to live and to love。 You want to read this book。 Buy it or borrow it， but read it。 It will be unlike any book you have read before， and you will be glad you did。 I give it my highest recommendation。 。。。more
Michelle
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I didn't realize this was a memoir until I had downloaded the book， and admittedly I wasn't thrilled。 However， I came to really enjoy the story and it held my interest。 Sometimes the descriptions of the wildlife and her surroundings were amazing， and other times I got tired of the flowery language。 I also had a hard time remembering the different names of the characters and animals。 It definitely does what it intends and makes the reader think about global issues。 3。5 stars， rounded upKindly rec I didn't realize this was a memoir until I had downloaded the book， and admittedly I wasn't thrilled。 However， I came to really enjoy the story and it held my interest。 Sometimes the descriptions of the wildlife and her surroundings were amazing， and other times I got tired of the flowery language。 I also had a hard time remembering the different names of the characters and animals。 It definitely does what it intends and makes the reader think about global issues。 3。5 stars， rounded upKindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。t 。。。more
Morris-Ken Hines
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Such a wonderful story of strength for all lifeI loved the story of how she ended up in Bolivia and how she stayed。 I can say that I felt the humidity， smelled the smells in her writing because of her great description in the details that places you there with her in Bolivia with a great purpose and a wonderful love story of a girl and a Puma。
Mary Preston
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A physically challenging and emotionally exhausting journey to a wild life refuge in Bolivia。 The volunteers are heroic in their care of the animals。 Blow flies， spiders， ticks， mosquitoes， rats， fungus， floods， fires， OH MY！
Anjeanette
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Thank youThank you for sharing this beautifully mosquito mottled memoir。 I feel like my life fell short of adventure or life experience。
Alexis
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Wild and enrichingIt's impossible not to feel your heart ache alongside Coleman's as she describes so vividly the stories that took place under the jungles diminishing canopies。 Animal-lover or not， this book will make you envy the wild Laura found out there and appreciate the efforts her and others take to preserve it。 Wild and enrichingIt's impossible not to feel your heart ache alongside Coleman's as she describes so vividly the stories that took place under the jungles diminishing canopies。 Animal-lover or not， this book will make you envy the wild Laura found out there and appreciate the efforts her and others take to preserve it。 。。。more
Dorothy R。 Dickhaus
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Good perspective on animal rightsGood to read once。 Maybe not completely politically correct。 Some of the conditions of the porque are hard to read about。
Britt Adkins
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I was hooked from the first page。 Really interesting writing and stories from a place I can’t even imagine。 If someone doesn’t already have the movie rights to this， they need to。
Christy
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A memoir that is also a love story— to a puma named Wayra， to the rainforest and jungle， to the wild places in all of us， to Mother Earth， to the things and creatures we love despite the pain it will inevitably bring。 Beautiful and emotional， this book really does strip down the layers and lay bare the heart that we usually try to shelter from the harsh pain of reality。
Jenni Wright
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I couldn't stop readingI was hooked by her words from the very beginning， and felt myself living the jungle and creatures she described。 I cried， I laughed， and I learned and I changed。 Thanks you for writing this。 I couldn't stop readingI was hooked by her words from the very beginning， and felt myself living the jungle and creatures she described。 I cried， I laughed， and I learned and I changed。 Thanks you for writing this。 。。。more
Debbie Strom
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MagnificentThis is a heartwarming story about love， hardship， devotion， and more for animals and the volunteers。 Extremely enlightening for me。 Loved the pictures。
Maureen
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Fascinating and quite unforgettable！This is a true story， a chronicle of a young British woman who volunteered at a wild animal rescue compound in Bolivia， and how it changed her entire life。 After reading this amazing book， you may find it changes YOUR life too， and it will surely cause you to care much more passionately about the plight of the millions of disappearing wild animals in South America and all over the world。 My description of the book really doesn't do it justice。 I came to care p Fascinating and quite unforgettable！This is a true story， a chronicle of a young British woman who volunteered at a wild animal rescue compound in Bolivia， and how it changed her entire life。 After reading this amazing book， you may find it changes YOUR life too， and it will surely cause you to care much more passionately about the plight of the millions of disappearing wild animals in South America and all over the world。 My description of the book really doesn't do it justice。 I came to care passionately about every animal and every volunteer， and about the ongoing fate of the rescue center， which is struggling to survive to this very day。 Just read this book。 It's one you'll never forget。 。。。more
Dana Linde
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I read this as possible memoir choice for my students for next year。 The memoir accounts Laura Coleman's time in Bolivia working at an animal sanctuary， and -in particular- with a puma named Wayra。 In her early 20s， Coleman lacked direction， so she found herself volunteering for a short stint at the sanctuary。 What was to be a short stint， becomes a recurring visit spanning more than a decade up to the point where Coleman's life goal becomes working to support the shelter。 The book made me cry a I read this as possible memoir choice for my students for next year。 The memoir accounts Laura Coleman's time in Bolivia working at an animal sanctuary， and -in particular- with a puma named Wayra。 In her early 20s， Coleman lacked direction， so she found herself volunteering for a short stint at the sanctuary。 What was to be a short stint， becomes a recurring visit spanning more than a decade up to the point where Coleman's life goal becomes working to support the shelter。 The book made me cry and cringe。 Her description of conditions for volunteers as well as reasons why animals came to the sanctuary both grossed me out and made me sad。 Her love for a puma， however， and her inability to stay away from the sanctuary made me cheer for those who are willing to truly put the welfare of animals before their own creature comforts。 While recounting her experiences， Coleman also brings to light to so many issues: animal trafficking， deforestation， climate change， etc。 Moreover， the memoir gives insight into how following one's path may be a hard decision， especially when society asks for conformity as to how one will live his or her life。 I really enjoyed this book and all the themes。 It is broken into three parts， and there are no real chapters。 I found some of the descriptions hard to follow， though: walking the cats， the various runs， and even descriptions of camp life。 It was also hard to keep track of characters and animals since there were so many， so 4。5 stars is my rating。 。。。more
Belinda
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What an amazing read！ I felt completely immersed in Laura’s world， volunteering with animals saved from illegal pet trade in the Bolivian jungle。 I loved all the characters， both animal and human。 Laura goes through a lot during her time volunteering… it changes her emotionally and physically。 What a beautiful bond she forms with Wayra the rescued and broken puma。 This is not just a story about Laura and the Parque。 It’s also a cautionary tale about the destructiveness of man。
Dr。Judith Ann Warner
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Exceptionally moving book about saving wildlife from ourselvesThe rescue of Wayra， the puma， in a time of pandemic isolation， struck so many chords about the tension in our world when people become disconnected from nature。 In the desolation and aloneness， the reader finds a connection with an animal taken from the wild too young to learn how to survive。
Maria
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Eye opening account of the lives of animal rights workers"the illegal wildlife trade just keeps on growing。 It’s a multibillion-dollar industry and has only increased with the advent of social media—where photos of a “cute” baby puma doing “cute” baby things will go viral instantaneously。 In Bolivia—and of course， across the world—"We just don't know nor think of the dedication and sacrifices of our conservationists and animal rights activists and volunteers。 This was a eye opening account of th Eye opening account of the lives of animal rights workers"the illegal wildlife trade just keeps on growing。 It’s a multibillion-dollar industry and has only increased with the advent of social media—where photos of a “cute” baby puma doing “cute” baby things will go viral instantaneously。 In Bolivia—and of course， across the world—"We just don't know nor think of the dedication and sacrifices of our conservationists and animal rights activists and volunteers。 This was a eye opening account of their struggles。 。。。more
Margot Hunjan
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A book that needs to be read and absorbed and appliedWow！ This is a memoir that will stay with you。 What an adventure！ Absolutely fascinating in its retelling - the people， the animals， the tough times， the tender moments， the unforgettable friendship between a very giving and talented young British volunteer/writer and Wayra， an amazing puma in a jungle sanctuary in Bolivia。
Sara
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This book meant so much to me that I'm resisting reading another book just yet。 I'm going to give Laura Coleman's The Puma Years， some time to sit with me。 If you love nature， animals， and are concerned with climate change， this book will speak to you。 It won't knock you over the head with a lecture。 Instead， you'll feel its message emotionally as you connect with the author， the other characters， and the animals。 I took them all in。 Afterward， I found myself researching the organizations mentio This book meant so much to me that I'm resisting reading another book just yet。 I'm going to give Laura Coleman's The Puma Years， some time to sit with me。 If you love nature， animals， and are concerned with climate change， this book will speak to you。 It won't knock you over the head with a lecture。 Instead， you'll feel its message emotionally as you connect with the author， the other characters， and the animals。 I took them all in。 Afterward， I found myself researching the organizations mentioned in the book and I'm impressed and grateful。 Surprisingly， the Puma Years inspired me to keep moving forward on my own completely unrelated path。 To keep trying what I feel is right for me。 Now I'm going to sit on the far end of our wooded property because that's my jungle。 I'll savor every moment， the amazing song of the Brood X Cicadas， the birds， deer， fox， sn_ _e， mosquitos， ticks， and skinks。 Trees， ferns， and well you get the idea。 We're so fortunate to be guests and temporary caretakers on this lovely planet as it gives us life。 Looking for a high-vibrating book？ Read this one。 。。。more
Laurie Spitzer
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Important ReadThis book is a down to earth， honest plea spoken for the threatened animal species of our world。 While some parts of the story could have been written more clearly， I feel that the message is vital to sustaining our natural world。 The story is fascinating and I found that I couldn’t it it down。
Audrey Lawrence
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