Joaquín Clavijo Manuttupa is a biologist from Cusco and Assistant Manager of Hoja Nueva’s Khan ReWilding Center. Trained at Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, he combines an academic background in biology with extensive hands-on experience in wildlife husbandry, rehabilitation, behavioral observation, and clinical support.

As one of the four core members of Hoja Nueva’s rehabilitation team, Joaquín works across the daily management of the center while collaborating closely with Jared on staff coordination and more complex wildlife cases. He has particular experience with felids and other carnivores, including ocelots, margays, jaguarundis, coatis, kinkajous, and other mesopredators.

His responsibilities include preparing and evaluating diets, feeding, enrichment, enclosure management, behavioral monitoring, assisting with routine treatments and veterinary procedures, maintaining clinical records and observations, and supporting intensive care when young or compromised animals require additional attention.

Joaquín also contributes to the progressive preparation of animals for release, where subtle changes in behavior, independence, human avoidance, hunting, and enclosure use can be as important as physical health. His long-term familiarity with individual animals makes him an important link between daily husbandry and larger rehabilitation decisions.

He also works with students in Hoja Nueva’s professional wildlife training programs, helping ensure that practical skills are taught within a framework of animal welfare, safety, minimal necessary human contact, and evidence-based rewilding.