West of Chiclayo, approximately an hour and a half away, you’ll find Chaparrí Ecological Reserve, the first private conservation area in Peru. The name Chaparrí comes from the impressive mountain that dominates the landscape there. The 34,412 hectare (~85,000 acre) reserve is owned and managed by the Muchik community of Santa Catalina de Changoyape. The reserve is home to 219 species of birds, 15 mammals, four amphibians, and 22 reptiles. New species are sure to be added to the list as research and habitat protection continue at Chaparrí.
The most notable residents at Chaparrí are the spectacled bear and the white-winged guan. The spectacled bear is the only bear in South America. The bear population at Chaparrí includes individuals from the last remaining viable population of the species inhabiting dry forest. Chaparrí currently has seven bears in enclosures, two of which are ready to be released in the wild soon. In addition, there are close to 20 individuals inhabiting the forests of the reserve.
The white-winged guan is a critically threatened bird that is only found in a small area of dry forest in the areas of Lambayeque, Piura, and Cajamarca in northern Peru. The guan was thought to be extinct for more than a century until it was rediscovered in 1977. Chaparrí has championed a successful reintroduction project and today, you can see more than 60 guans ambling around the reserve.
Chaparrí is well worth the trip from Chiclayo. You can spend a night in the rustic lodge and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of Peruvian pygmy-owls and screech-owls. In the morning, you can hit the trails in search of the reserve’s two famous species. In all likelihood, you’ll see curious foxes, buzzing hummingbirds, and raucous white-tailed jays along the way. The money spent at Chaparrí will help feed the animals, pay the local guides, maintain the facilities, and educate local children. This is sustainable tourism in action.
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