Juliane Koepcke
11 days alone in the jungle
Juliane Koepcke was born in Germany in 1954, but when she was still a young child, her family moved to Peru. Her parents were both scientists who studied wildlife, and they spent much of their time researching plants and animals in the Amazon rainforest. Juliane grew up surrounded by nature, and she learned many important survival skills from her parents.
In December 1971, when Juliane was 17 years old, she boarded a plane with her mother and other passengers. They were flying over the Peruvian rainforest to spend Christmas together. On December 24, the airplane ran into a violent thunderstorm. The turbulence grew stronger, and suddenly the plane broke apart in midair. Pieces of metal and luggage fell into the jungle below.
Amazingly, Juliane survived the fall. Still strapped to her seat, she plunged about three kilometers (almost two miles) down into the rainforest. The thick trees helped slow her fall, and although she was badly shaken and injured, she was alive. She had a broken collarbone, a deep cut on her arm, and many bruises, but she could still walk.
When she realized she was the only survivor, Juliane drew on the knowledge she had gained from her parents. She knew she had to find water quickly in order to survive. Following her mother’s advice, she looked for small streams and then followed them, because she knew that streams often lead to rivers and eventually to places where people live.
For eleven long days, Juliane made her way through the dense rainforest. She drank water from streams, ate small fruits she recognized as safe, and tried to stay calm despite her injuries. She had to protect herself from swarms of mosquitoes and avoid dangerous animals, such as snakes and caimans. Sometimes she had to wade through rivers, and the heat and humidity made every step exhausting.
Her determination kept her going. At times she felt weak and hopeless, but she reminded herself of what her parents had taught her about the forest and survival. Finally, after almost two weeks, she found a small hut used by local loggers. Before long, a group of men discovered her and brought her to safety.
Juliane’s story is one of the most incredible survival stories in history. Against all odds, a 17-year-old girl managed to survive a plane crash and nearly two weeks alone in one of the world’s most dangerous environments.
Questions to answer in your document
Where was Juliane Koepcke born, and where did she grow up?
What happened to the airplane on December 24, 1971?
How did Juliane survive the fall from the plane?
What injuries did Juliane have after the crash?
What survival skills did Juliane use in the rainforest?
How was Juliane finally rescued?