Age, Biography, and Wiki
Juliane Koepcke was born on October 10, 1954, in Lima, Peru, to German zoologists Maria and Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke. Her life took a dramatic turn when she was just 17 years old, as she became the sole survivor of the LANSA Flight 508 crash, which occurred on Christmas Eve in 1971. Miraculously, she survived 11 days in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest before finding help.
| Occupation | Scientists |
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| Date of Birth | 10 October 1954 |
| Age | 70 Years |
| Birth Place | Lima, Peru |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Peru |
Height, Weight & Measurements
There is limited public information available regarding Juliane Koepcke's height and weight. These details are not commonly discussed in her biographies or public appearances.
Koepcke survived the fall but suffered injuries including a broken collarbone, a deep cut on her right arm, an eye injury and a concussion. She then spent 11 days in the rainforest, most of she spent following a creek to a river. While in the jungle, she dealt with severe insect bites and an infestation of botfly larvae in her injured arm. After nine days, she was able to find an encampment that had been set up by local lumberjacks. A few hours later, the returning lumberjacks found her, poured gasoline onto her wound, and used a canoe to transport her for 11 hours to a more inhabited area. She was then airlifted to a hospital.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Juliane Koepcke is married to Erich Diller, a biologist. The couple is known for their shared passion for wildlife and conservation.
At the age of 14, she left Lima with her parents to establish the Panguana research station in the Amazon rainforest, where she learned survival skills. Educational authorities disapproved and she was required to return to the Deutsche Schule Lima Alexander von Humboldt to take her exams, graduating on 23 December 1971.
On 24 December 1971, just one day after she graduated, Koepcke flew on LANSA Flight 508. Her mother Maria had wanted Juliane to return to Panguana with her on 19 or 20 December, but Koepcke wanted to attend her graduation ceremony in Lima on 23 December. Maria agreed that they would stay for her graduation and instead they scheduled a flight for Christmas Eve. All flights were fully booked except for one with LANSA. Koepcke's father, Hans-Wilhelm, urged his wife to avoid flying with the airline due to its poor reputation. Nonetheless, the flight was booked. The plane was struck by lightning mid-flight and began to disintegrate before plummeting to the ground. Koepcke found herself falling, still strapped to her row of seats, 3000 m into the Amazon rainforest.
After recovering from her injuries, Koepcke assisted search parties in locating the crash site and recovering the bodies of victims. Her mother's body was discovered on 12 January 1972.
Koepcke returned to her parents' native Germany, where she fully recovered from her physical injuries. Like her parents, she studied biology at the University of Kiel and graduated in 1980. She received a doctorate from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and returned to Peru to conduct research in mammalogy, specialising in bats. She published her thesis, "Ecological study of a bat colony in the tropical rain forest of Peru", in 1987.
In 1989, Koepcke married Erich Diller, a German entomologist who specialises in parasitic wasps. In 2000, following the death of her father, she took over as the director of Panguana. She currently serves as a librarian at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich.
Koepcke's story was more faithfully told by Koepcke herself in German filmmaker Werner Herzog's documentary Wings of Hope (1998). Herzog was interested in telling her story because of a personal connection: He was scheduled to be on the same flight while scouting locations for his film Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), but a last-minute change of plans spared him from the crash. He had planned to make the film ever since narrowly missing the flight but was unable to contact Koepcke for decades since she avoided the media; he located her after contacting the priest who performed her mother's funeral. Koepcke accompanied him on a visit to the crash site, which she described as a "kind of therapy" for her.
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| Husband | Erich Diller (m. 1989) |
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Net Worth and Salary
Juliane Koepcke's net worth is not publicly disclosed. However, her earnings likely come from her work as a mammalogist, writer, and public speaker. Her story has been featured in various films and books, contributing to her financial stability.
Career, Business, and Investments
Koepcke is a prominent figure in the field of mammalogy, specializing in bats. Her career has been marked by extensive research and conservation efforts. She has also been involved in writing and has appeared in several documentaries and films, including "Miracles Still Happen" (1974) and "Planet Wissen" (2002). Her inspirational story has led to public speaking engagements and literary works.
Social Network
Juliane Koepcke is not frequently mentioned in mainstream social media platforms, but her story continues to inspire many through various accounts and tributes across platforms like Instagram.
Koepcke's survival has been the subject of numerous books and films, including the low-budget and heavily fictionalized I miracoli accadono ancora (1974) by Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Maria Scotese, which was released in English as Miracles Still Happen and is sometimes called The Story of Juliane Koepcke. She was portrayed by English actress Susan Penhaligon in the film.
Education
Koepcke attended the Deutsche Schule Lima Alexander von Humboldt in Lima, Peru. Her experience growing up in the Amazon rainforest, where her parents established the Panguana research station, provided her with invaluable survival skills.
In conclusion, Juliane Koepcke's remarkable life and career have made her an iconic figure in both the scientific community and popular culture. Her resilience and contributions to science continue to inspire people worldwide.
