It was during their work with the children, that Juan Carlos and Nena came to the understanding that the organization needed to expand its aims and include the protection of wildlife and nature.

Nena and Juan Carlos founded the first wildlife shelter in 1993 in La Paz. In 1996 the shelter moved to Villa Tunari, located the Chapare province.

In the first days, the refuge had o­nly o­ne room that housed the first monkeys, while Nena and Juan Carlos slept outside in sleeping bags. Nena and Juan Carlos took the animals into the jungle and tried to introduce them back into the wild. After a period of living o­n the generosity of the people of Villa Tunari, Juan Carlos received a grant that led to the expansion of the refuge to what it is today.

Nena's dedication and love for the animals made her highly experienced and knowledgeable.

She made the refuge her life's project, working 24 hours a day 7 days a week trying to make sure every animal receives the treatment and love it deserves.

In 1998, WWSF (women's world's summit found), awarded Nena a special prize for her work of preservation of nature. She was the youngest woman to ever receive a prize from WWSF.

This is how she was presented to the found's members:

"This prize is in recognition of the fact that balanced sustainable development in rural areas can o­nly be reached in close collaboration with nature. Our youngest nominee to date, Tania (Nena) Baltazar Lugones (24) runs a wildlife reserve (the Inti Wara Yassi Wildlife Refuge and Rescue Center) in Bolivia with almost no means. o­nly her exceptional courage, unflagging devotion and steadfastness enable this young woman to work 16-17 hours a day, seven days a week, with never a day off. Nena works as a volunteer for Inti Wara Yassi Society, a local ecological and social NGO, "...when animals are hurt, we are hurt. When nature is hurt, we are hurt..." stresses this forest queen of striking beauty. "

To learn more about volunteering, see this page.

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