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Manu, Located on the Southeast of
Peru, is One of the Largest Parks in South America. The
Area of the Park Covers Parts of the Andean Department
of Cuzco and the Jungle Part of the Department of Madre
de Dios. Manu Protects Over 2 Million Hectares (4.5
Million Acres) of Territory Rich in Flora and Fauna
Species in a Variety of Habitats Including High Andes,
Cloud Forests, and Lowland Tropical Rain Forests.
This Natural Paradise is Officially Recognized by UNESCO
as a World Heritage Site. In 1977 They Designated Manu
as a World Biosphere Reserve Because it Contains the
Best Existing Example of Biodiversity in Protected Areas
of Rain Forest, as Well as Endemic Areas of Cloud
Forest. The Majority of Forests in the World Have Been
Altered by Humans. Fortunately, Manu has Remained Intact
and Untouched by Civilization.
Thus, We Can Observe a Variety of Animals in Their
Natural Habitats, Including: Giant Otters (Pteronura
Brasilensis), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus Niger), the
Majestic Jaguar (Panthera Onca), the Strange Spectacled
Bear (Tremarctos Ornatus), the Tapir (Tapirus Terrestris),
the Ocelot (Felis Pardalis), 13 Species of Primates, and
an Estimated One Thousand Species of Birds Including
Seven Macaws .
Manu Also Contains 10% of the World's Vascular Plant
Species, Including Several Species of Figs and Palms, as
Well as Countless Species of Medicinal Plants That
Scientists are Currently Cataloguing. A Single Hectare
of Forest in Manu Can Have up to 220 Species of Trees,
While a Hectare of Temperate Forest in Europe or North
America May Only Have 20 Species of Trees. The Manu
National Park May be the Most Biological Diverse and
Protected Park on the Planet.
Manú National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Del
Manu) is a Biosphere Reserve Located in Madre de
Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before Becoming an Area
Protected by the Peruvian Government, the Manú National
Park was Conserved Thanks to its Inaccessibility. The
Park Remains Fairly Inaccessible by Road to This Day. In
1977, UNESCO Recognized it as a Biosphere Reserve and in
1987; it was Pronounced a World Heritage Site. It is the
Largest National Park in Peru, Covering an Area of
15,328 km². The Biosphere Reserve Includes an Additional
2,570 km², and a Further 914 km² are Included in a
"Cultural Zone" Bringing the Total area up to 18,811
km².
The park Protects Several Ecological Zones Ranging From
as Low as 150 Meters Above Sea Level in Parts of the
Southwest Amazon Moist Forests to Peruvian Yungas at
Middle Elevations to Central Andean Wet Puna at an
Altitudeof 4200 Meters. Because of This Topographical
Range, it has Oneof the Highest Levels of Biodiversity
of Any Park in the World. Overall, More Than 15,000
Species of Plants are Found in Manú, and up to 250
Varieties of Trees Have Been Found in a Single Hectare.
The Reserve is a Destination for Birdwatchers From all
Over the World, as it is Home to Over 1000 Species of
Birds, More Than the Number of Bird Species Found in the
United States and Canada Combined. It is Also Acclaimed
as Having One of the Highest Abundances of Land
Vertebrates Ever Found in Latin American Tropical
ForestsRiver in Manú National Park
The Park Encompasses Virtually the Entire Watershed of
the Manú River, From the Sources of its Tributaries High
in the Andes, the Madre de Dios River. As the
Surrounding Area is Largely Undeveloped, the Only Direct
Access to the Lowlands is by Boat, up the Manú River.
This Singular Entry Point is Easily Patrolled by Park
Guards. The Road Cusco-Paucartambo-Shintuya Borders the
Southern Section of the Park and Provides Access to
High-Andean Ecosystems, Such as Grasslands (Puna) and
Mountain Forest and Scrub.
Park administration
As With all National Parks in Peru, Manú is Operated
by INRENA, the National Natural Resources Institute (Instituto
Nacional de Recursos Naturales).
Manú Learning Centre
Permanent Human Habitation is Restricted to Several
Small Communities of the Matsigenga Amazonian Tribal
Group, Along the Manú River or One of its Main
Tributaries. Several Protected Areas Adjoining the Park
Allow Mixed use Including Tourism, Hunting, Logging, and
Harvesting of Other Resources. These Areas, Notably
Downstream on the Manú River, are Included in the
amplitude of the Manú Biosphere Reserve, But are not
Part of the National Park.
Visitors Within the National Park Includes Medical and
Educational Professionals Upon Invitation by the
Indigenous Community, and Researchers With Permits From
INRENA. The Cocha Cashu Biological Station, Under the
Guidance of Renowned University Ecologist John Terborgh
is the Largest and Most Established Research Site in the
Park, and is Among the Most Well-Studied Sites for
Biological and Ecological Research in the Tropics.
The Manu Learning Centre (MLC) Lies Within the Cultural
Zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve Along the
South-Eastern Border With the Alto Madre de Dios River.
The MLC Facilitates Research Work Within the Disturbed
'Buffer' Zone of the Park Where Human Impact is at its
Greatest.
Flora
More than 20,000 Species. 40% of the Park is
Amazonian Lowland Tropical Rainforest, Including Varzea,
Oxbow Lakes, Mauritia Palm, Swamps, and Upland Forest
Types.
Fauna
Wild Tayra at Manú National Park
The Manú Biosphere Reserve has a Very Rich Wildlife.
Larger Species of the Lowland Forests Include Jaguar,
Puma, Ocelot, Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, Southern
Tamandua, Giant Armadillo, Nine-Banded Armadillo,
Brown-Throated Sloth, Hoffmann's Two-Toed Sloth,
Brazilian Tapir, Capybara, Pacarana, Lowland Paca,
Collared Peccary, White-Lipped Peccary and Several Deer
Species, Like South American Red Brocket, and South
American Brown Brocket. The Marsh Deer, Actually Rather
a Savannna Animal, has Also Been Confirmed. There are 14
Species of Monkeys. These are Goeldi's Marmoset, Gygmy
Marmoset, Shock-Headed Capuchin (Cebus Albifrons
Cuscinus), Tufted Capuchin (Cebus Apella Peruanus),
Brown-Mantled Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Mustached
Tamarin, Black-Capped Squirrel Monkey, Black-Headed
Night Monkey, Brown Titi, Rio Tapajós saki, Bolivian Red
Howler, Peruvian Spider Monkey, and Gray Woolly Monkey.
Confined to the Mountainous Areas Above 2000 m are
Peruvian White-Tailed Deer, Dwarf Brocket, Zulpeo,
Mountain Paca and Spectacled bear. The Puma Also Reaches
Very High Elevations of up to 3450 m. |
