Donald Perry

Donald Perry, a laureate of the 1984 Rolex Awards, is safely roped up for an ascent into the forest canopy.

Every year at least 100,000 tourists ride the Rain Forest Aerial Trams, which Perry helped develop.

Donald Perry climbs a natural ladder, albeit a wet one, to reach the tree canopy.

Donald Perry is at home in the tree tops of Costa Rica.

Tropical forest canopies are home to some of the Earth's most complex biosystems.

Perry won a Rolex Award to develop the Automated Web for Canopy Exploration, which enables two researchers to manœuvre around the rain forest canopy, which is rich in wildlife and little-known species.

Perry's system has a platform, 400 metres of rope web, pulleys and descent ropes, allowing him to move from ground level to above the tree top and anywhere inside the canopy world.

Some of Costa Rica’s special animals like this glass frog are visible from above, instead of being obscured by undergrowth.

Perry's Aerial Tram in Costa Rica allows tourists to visit the tree canopy.

An Anolis lizard eats a mantis undisturbed by its observers.