National Reserves
National Reserves include areas for protection and propagation of animal wildlife. These areas have fewer ecological systems than the National Parks, and the rational use of wildlife is forced.
Lomas de Lachay: Lachay Foothills National Reserve
Lachay National Reserve is located in the
Department of Lima, (105 km. 65 miles north
of Lima) .This National Reserve has 5070 hectares.
Lachay foothills is a unique natural life
zone in the area. This reserve is covered
with ephemeral vegetation (resemble forest).
Life in the Reserve comes from condensed water
(from humidity ) which is deposited over the
rocks and ground, during winter and spring
(August to December). Winds carry the humidity
(push the fog) to the coastal mountains and
it is trapped by the hills and deposited on
the desert sand as drops of water.
This National Reserve was established in 1977.
The Altitude of this reserve is from 100 to
750 m (328 feet to 2461 feet). Lachay foothills
protects a native flora and fauna, some in
danger of extinction.
Almost 60 bird species are found in the reserve,
mostly migratory. An example of these species
are: Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), cactus
canastero (Ashtenes cactorum) , the American
kestrel (Falco sparverius), black-chested
buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus),
the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
Several types of rodents and lizards are in
the Reserve, also the coastal fox (Dusicyon
sechurae), the white -tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus), Andean cat (Oncifelis colocolo),
Andes skunk (Conepatus rex).
Native and introduced species of plants are
found here, such as tara trees (Caesalpinia
tinctorea), palillo (Capparis prisca), many
varieties of shrubs, cacti, mosses and orchid.
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
The Peruvian Government declared the Pacaya
and Samiria River Basin as a Reserved zone
in 1940 in order to protect the largest fish
in the Amazon river system.
In 1982 Pacaya Samiria was declared as National
Reserve. It was created to conserve the species
of plants and animal wildlife.
Pacaya Samiria is located in the Department
of Loreto at the confluence of the Ucayali
and Marañon rivers. This is the largest protected
area in Peru with an area of 2,080,000 hectares,
and an altitude between 525 feet to 1640 feet
(160m to 500m).
The alluvial landscape of the National Reserve
contains countless lakes, swamps areas, many
lagoons, canals and wetlands. There are at
least eighty-five lakes in this Reserve.
Four different types of forests are found
here, and a great variety of species of plants,
such as Lupuna (Chorisia insignis), renaco
(Ficus anthelmintica), caoba or mahogany (Swietenia
macrophylla); orchids such as mosses, lichen,
Elleamthus aurantiaca; Palm trees, such as
Mauritius Palm or Aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa),
yarina (Phytelephas yarina).
In Pacaya Samiria there are more than One
hundred thirty two species of reptiles, one
hundred thirty types of mammals, more than
three hundred species of birds, countless
numbers of amphibians, and huge variety of
fish species that are the main source of protein
for the local population.
Many endangered species are found in this
National Reserve such as the Black spider
monkey (Ateles paniscus), wooly monkey (Lagothrix
lagotricha), red howler monkey (Alouata seniculus),
the pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis),
the gray estuarine dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis),
two species of turtles: Taricaya (Podocnemis
unfillis), giant charapa (Podocnemis expansa),
manatees (Trichechus inunguis), giant otters
(Pteronura brasiliensis), and the black cayman
(Melanosuchus niger).
A large variety of fish species that can be
found here, such as: the world's largest fresh
- water fish (Paiche arapaima gigas) , weighing
four hundred pounds, and about three meters
long: Pacu (Myleus setiger) thirty pounds,
gamitana (Colossoma bidens) one hundred twelve
pounds, tucunare (Cichla Ocellaris) eight
to ten pounds, and acarahuasu (Astronotus
ocellatus) three to five pounds.
Within the group of mammals, we can find the
most common felines , the jaguar (Panthera
onca), ocelot (Leopardis pardalis) and margay
(Leopardus wiedii). The most abundant type
of mammals are the rodents, an example of
these are the ronsoco or capybara (Hydrochoerus
hydrochaeris).
Finally, we find in Pacaya Samiria a great
variety of birds species such as: toucan (Ramphastos
cuvieri), blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna),
tabaquero (Pteroglossus castanotis), Scarlet
macaw (Ara macao), tuqui-tuqui (Jacana jacana),
green hummingbird (Amazilia lactea), among
others.
Pampa Galeras - Barbara D'Achille National Reserve
The Pampa Galeras National Reserve was established
in 1967 as Protected Natural Area. It is located
in the Department of Ayacucho (Lucanas' district)
on 6500 hectares of the high plateau plains
in the Lucanas community. The altitude of
this Reserve is between 12,470 feet to 17,050
feet. (3,800m to 5,200m).
This Reserve protects and preserves the endangered
species of vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna), llama
(Lama glama), Alpaca (Lama pacos), and guanaco
(Lama guanicoe).
In 1993 in honor to Barbara D`Achille (environmental
journalist) the name of this Reserve was modified
as Pampa Galeras-Barbara d`Achille National
Reserve.
There are many species of animals in this
Reserve, such as one hundred and four species
of birds: White tufted grebe (Rollandia Rolland),
Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Chilean flamingo
(Phoenicopterus chilensis), Speckled teal
(Anas flavirostris), Andean condor (Vultur
gryphus), Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
among others. There are seventeen species
of mammals such as: pumas (Puma concolor),
Andean deer (Hippocamelus antisensis), the
white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus),
and Andean fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), Long-tailed
weasel (Mustela frenata) , among others.
Also, three species of amphibious, and two
species of reptiles are found here.
There are around one hundred and fifty four
species of plants, different types of natural
pastures (Plantago rigida), grasses, shrubs
(quisuar : (Buddleja coriacea), cacti (Echinocactus
spp.), small polylepis forests (queñua: Polylepis
besser), Stipa ichu, Calamagrostis spp. Some
endangered species of plants such as: Lilaeopsis
macloviana (Apiaceae), Poa pseudoaequigluma,
and Dissanthelium trollii (Poaceae) can be
seen in the Reserve.
In this National, Reserve the protection and
the reproduction of vicuñas are possible by
hindering their migration.
Paracas National Reserve
Named after one of the oldest and richest
Pre-Inca cultures in Peru (Paracas Culture).
Located 250 km south of Lima, 20 km south
of Pisco; in the Department of Ica. The reserve
is on the Paracas Peninsula (coastal desert
strip) and in the surrounding ocean. The altitude
is between 0 to 786m (0 to 2,579 feet). It
was established in 1975 with an extension
of 335,000 hectares to protect the Peruvian
portion of the cold Humboldt current, and
preserve marine and coastal ecosystems (35
% of the area is on land and 65 % on the ocean.
The big beaches and rocky coastline of Paracas
attract hundreds of species of shorebirds.
This reserve is the land of guano birds, and
it is the final refuge for migratory birds
and many endemic and endangered species of
birds such as the Humboldt penguin and the
common flamingoes.
There are 47 families and 216 species of birds
both resident and migratory registered in
the Paracas National Reserve. The species
of birds found here in great numbers are:
Guano birds (guanay cormorant) Phalacrocorax
bougainvillii Piquero (Peruvian booby) Sula
variegata, and large variety of north American
shorebirds (plovers)Charadrius and sand pipers
(calidris sp). The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus
humboldtii) a specie native to the cold Peruvian
current.
The habitual visitor of this area is the Andean
condor (Vultur gryphus). This birds soar over
the cliffs and the ocean. Birds from the Andean
Highlands such as the Puna Plover (Charadrius),
the Tawny throated Dotterel and from the central
coast, the Peruvian thick-knee (Burhinidae).
There is a large population of marine animals
such as dolphin (Delphinus delphis) marine
pig (Phocoena spinipinnis), killer whales
(Orcinus orca), fur seal (Arctocephalus australis),
(endangered), the marine otter (Lutra felina),
Dermochelys coriacea) and Leather back turtle.
Some species of fish such as guitarra fish
(Rhibonatus planiceps), martillo fish (Sphyrna
zygaena), sharks, among others.
Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Salinas and Aguada Blanca is located near
the Huito and Pucarillo towns, East of the
city of Arequipa, in the Departments of Arequipa
and Moquegua in the province of Caylloma.
The National Reserve is situated in a land
of volcanoes in Arequipa, at the foot of the
Misti 19,098 feet (5,821 m) and the Pichu
Pichu 18,094 feet (5,515 m) volcanoes. The
altitude of Salinas and Aguada Blanca National
Reserve is between 3,500 to 6,057 m (11,483
feet to 19,872 feet) . The size of this Reserve
is 366,936 hectares and the Lake Salinas has
2,100 hectares.
Salinas and Aguada Blanca was established
as National Reserve in 1979. The Lake Salinas
is protected since it is inside the Salinas
and Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
In this reserve we can find the beautiful
forest of stones from Sumbay and the lake
Salinas. There are thermal baths and deep
canyons.
The important species of birds found in this
reserved are:
Three species of flamingo: the Andean flamingo
(Phoenicoparrus andinus), Chilean flamingo
(Phoenicopterus chilensis), and James flamingo
(Phoenicopterus james), the majestic Andean
condor (Vultur gryphus), Puna ibis (Plegadis
ridwayii), Black chested buzzard eagle (Geranoaetus
melanoleucus), Giant conebill (oreomanes fraseri),
and Puna hawk (Buteo poecilochrous), among
others. There are other species of animals
in this National Reserve such as Vicuña (Vicugna
vicugna), Andean deer (Hippocamelus antisensis),
White tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus),
Andean fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), Puma (Puma
concolor), Alpacas (Lama pacos), Guanacos,
etc. Many protected species of Andean animals
live in this Reserve.
Titicaca National Reserve
It was established in 1978 with an area of
36,180 hectares spread almost totally over
the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake
Titicaca, helping to conserve the region's
plant and animal wildlife The altitude of
this reserve is of 3,809 meters above sea
level (12,497 feet).
The Reserved zone is located in the Peruvian
portion of the lake, in the Department of
Puno, between Peru and the border line with
Bolivia (in the Southern Andean highlands
of Peru). Two separate sectors can be found
in the reserve:
1. The Bay of Puno (29,150 ha.) which protects
the totora reed fields.
2. Ramis sector (7,030 ha.), including the
Huancané area, which preserves totora fields.
This area is less frequently visited.
The total area of the lake is 83,000 ha.,
(3,235 square miles or 8,379 square km.).
Lake Titicaca is shared with the neighboring
country of Bolivia. The Peruvian portion of
the lake accounts for 60% of the entire area
(46,000ha ). The lake is inhabited by different
ethnics. One of them is the Uros, descendants
of the Aymaras, living on totora reeds´ floating
islands.
There is a big humid zone near Puno it is
extended 12 km from the lake's edge. In the
bodies of water (lakes, pools and streams)
there is an abundance of bird species that
inhabit lake Titicaca. This is a very important
zone for aquatic, Andean, and limicolas near
tic species of birds.
More than 60 varieties of birds, including
the endemic and rare Titicaca flightless grebe
(Centropelma micropterum), can be observed
in the lake's surroundings, particularly in
the totorales. Other species of birds can
be observed too: Flamingoes: Chilean flamingo
(Phoenicopterus chilensis), Puna ibis (Plegadis
ridgway ), cormorant (phalacrocorax brasilianus),
Andean swallow (Petrochelidon andecola), black
night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax ), Andean
gull (Larus serranus), guarahuaru falcon (Phalcobaenus
albogularis).
There are many species of amphibians (Gastrotheca
marsupiata) (Frog), many species of small
rodents, Andes skunk (Conepatus rex), Andean
fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), wild guinea pig (Cavia
tschudii), which inhabit the National reserve.
In the surrounding area of the lake, the typical
vegetation is grassy steppes and shrubland
. In the lake Titicaca grows the totora, lenteja
de agua (Lemna sp), which are floating plants.
