The National Park of Manu

Peru's biggest national park and probably the richest in the world, taking into consideration its biodiversity, the importance of this Park has not only been recognized by the Peruvian Sate, but also by the UNESCO, which declared it “Natural Patrimony of Humanity” in 1987.

Data:

· Located in the provinces of Manu (Madre de Dios) and

  Paucartambo (Cusco).

· Territory area; when it was created as a National Park it covered a

  territory of 1,532.806 hectares. In the year 2002 it was extended to

  a total of 1,716.295.22 hectares.
· It was declared National Park on the 22^nd of May 1973.
 

It was declared by the UNESCO biosphere nucleus in 1977. And later in 1987 Natural Patrimony of Humanity.

The Largest Biodiversity in the world:
“It is probably the largest protected biodiversity in the world” this is what is stated in one of the reports by the United Nations Protected Areas program. Even though the investigation is still incipient, more than eight hundred birds and two hundred mammals have been discovered within the Manu Park. Knowledge concerning to other species are less.  Great part of the natural richness of the National Park is due to its privileged location and covers all altitude levels; starting from the highlands of Cusco till the flatlands of the Amazon jungle. In South America it can only be compared with the National Park of Madidi, the largest in Bolivia and the Parks in the Amazonas and Pico de Neblina of Brasil which are also considered large intangible biological reserves.

Internal Division:
For a better protective control of the area, the Manu National Park has been divided into three zones. The first central zone is untouchable; it is strictly untouchable and designated to a general ecological protection. This area covers 1,532.806 hectares. The second zone of the reserve covers 257,000 hectares and has been designated to scientific investigation and controlled tourist activities. The third zone is cultural or known as the lower Manu, which covers 91,394 hectares and is constituted by human settlings, this area can only be occupied by the native Indians.

The Caimans
Within the reptiles, the one which stands out is the Black Caiman (Melanosuchus Niger, as views in the picture) this is the authentic king of the lagoons and rivers. Because its growth does not stop until it dies, very large exemplars have been found measuring over 6 metres in length. Its habitat is made up of deep waters. Generally it feeds on fishes, although it may also attack and feed on relatively large mammals, such as deer's and wild tropical pigs known as Ronsoco. The Black Caiman is also in the endangered species list due to indiscriminate hunting. Other known Caiman species present in the Manu National Park is the Dwarf Caiman which are very aggressive (paleosuchus palpebrosus).

The Primates
Within the monkeys which live in the Manu, 13 species in total, the monkey which mostly stands out is known as Leoncillo or Titi (Cebuella pygmea), considered to be he smallest in the world. Weighing nearly 100 grams it mainly feeds on vegetable resin. Amongst others you may also find the Ardilla or Frailecillos monkeys (Saimiri Sciureus) which form relatively large groups of 70 members or more. The most numerous are the Pichico, of which 5 different species have been found, with them is the Pichico Emperor (Saguinius imperator), which attracts quite a lot the attention due to its long whiskers, and also the common Pichico (as seen in the picture). They feed on fruit and flower nectar as well as small insects and frogs. Their social behaviour within its group is quite peculiar and is known as Polyandry. The female is helped by the raising of her off-springs by two male monkeys, during her mating season she mates with both of the males who helped her raising her off-springs. Scientific medicine has also reaped benefit from these monkey species, in which they were able to develop the Hepatitis Type “B” vaccine

Birding Paradise 
The eight hundred of bird species registered in the Manu National Park represent 25% of the total species in South America and approximately 10% of all the species in the world, according to the survey conducted by the United Nations. One thing is quite clear this survey is still incomplete due to the reason that it is thought that there are more than 1000 species; therefore the Manu is one of the most recommendable places to visit when one is interested in bird watching.
Due to its beauty and size, the Guacamayo are the most observed and endangered. The red Guacamayo (Ara Macao) which measures 1 metre in length is one of the most beautiful species. The head is red and orange and in its wings and tail blue feathers, and is known by the native Indians as “ Cabezon”  “Big Head”. Another bird species which is gravely endangered of extinguishing is the Blue and yellow Headed Guacamayo (Ara ararauna). Within the parrots the one which stands out the most is known as the blue headed (Piounus menstruus), which can measure up to 30 centimetres

The large Otter or River Wolf
Also known as the river wolf. Belongs to the family Mustelidae. This marine mammal lives in the lagoons and rivers where they feed on other aquatic animals. They weigh 35 kg aprox and measure up to 2 metres long. It has a short nose and long whiskers and a long tail which allows them to swim very fast. These are animals which come out during daylight and are monogamous. This is also an endangered species; because of its beautiful skin they are hunted. When this species thrived years ago, you could practically find them everywhere in the Amazon River and also in other rivers in South America. Now the ones which remain live in the National Park of Manu. Martha Brecha who studies these species, estimates that there are only 100 species left in the Manu National Park.

Flora
In the Manu, more than 20,000 vascular plant species have been registered i.e. vegetation with a vascular system in which the nutrients are distributed throughout their stems, additionally 5 types of different classifications well defined: 1) The Tropical Jungle with tree species that have disappeared for a long time elsewhere such as Mahogany, Cedar, Tornillo amongst other well known species, also you will find tree more than 60 metres tall. High hanging gardens which are clustered between the trees and barely allows the sunlight to shine through; 2) Subtropical forest with species that have multipurpose applications either in medicine and food; 3) Forest with fog, abundant with Orchids and giant begonias; 4) dwarf like forest which until this very day are being studied and investigated for science porpoise. 5) And Highland Pajonales (this is an Ashaninka term) meaning field of thick stubble

The Manu National Park
Located in the south oriental part of Peru, this large natural reserve has a wide variety of climates and landscapes such as the highlands of the Andes. The highland and low subtropical forest, in these ecosystems, converge physical, biological components as well as social and cultural.

Physical characteristics
The territory within the park varies and with this also the climates are different in each area, nevertheless the whole territory is considered to be very humid due to rainy conditions.
In the higher part which corresponds to the Andes, the thermal conditions changes from warm to very cold. There are two seasonal stations known as: Dry season from May to September and the rainy season (this is when the temperature rises) between October and April.

HYDROGRAPHYC CONDITIONS:
The National Park has a vast hydro graphic system from which the most outstanding ones are:

Alto Madre de Dios River
This River has torrent characteristic, with strong slopes and strong changes in the flow of the water. This river is fed from many other affluent rivers which originated within the foggy jungle.

Manu River
This river is nearly completely within the Manu National Park and collects water from 9 rivers This River is considered to be mature because of its stability in its flow and tranquillity of its waters. In rainy season the water can rise from three to 5 metres generating multiple flooding.

Grounds
According to its origins it can be classified in three types:

Recent alluvial grounds
Located on the river beds which constantly receive sediments and materials from the river.

Old alluvial grounds
These are formed by old sedimentation which penetrate the park and reach 15 to 40 metres.

Residual ground
These are grounds originated from the tertiary and quaternary era and which have not been dragged by the rivers waters

FLORA:
The Pacal (Guadua spp) this amazon bamboo, accompanied by other representative vegetation. It is said that the Manu is a relatively young forest still in development. In one hectare within the National Park 17 trees were found with a diameter of a little bit over 70 cms, when it is normally usual to find 4 to 11 trees. From these, the ceiba pentandra had the largest diameter 120 cms.

NATIVE INHABITANTS:
Communities which live within the Park in voluntary isolation are:
- Mashco Piro
- Amahuaca
 

In initial contact with the outer world are the following:
- Yora
- Nanti
- Matsiguenka
- Kugapakori

FAUNA
Even though it has not thoroughly been inventoried, diverse studies indicated that diverse species are directly proportionally to the diversity of the ecosystem which is found within the park.

Otorongo (Panthera onca)
Length: up to 2, 5 metres without including the tail
Weight: up to 150 Kg
Geographic distribution: From Mexico to Argentina and can be found up until 2000 m.a.s.l
Habitat: Tropical Jungle
Feeding: Carnivorous, hunts on large mammals, turtles, caimans, birds and fishes.
Insects: With new investigations it is always important to constantly update the inventory. The count of different variety is calculated in millions.

- Butterfly: 1,307 species
- Beetles: 650 species
- Ants: 300 species
- Libel Lula or Dragonflies: 136 species
- Birds: More than 800 species
- Mammals: 159 species
- Reptiles: 99 species
- Amphibious: 140 species
- Fishes: 210 species

 

Archaeology
In the area of the Manu National Park some rests have been discovered although not yet studied or investigated, which confirms us the presence of humans in ancient times. The best known vestiges are the stone carvings of Patiacolla, considered to be the biggest in the Peruvian territory. Federico Kaufmann Doig has explained that some of the carvings on the stones have been deciphered as human masks or faces in a schematic mode. Another important discovery in this area is the ruins of Mameria, and was discovered by the spouses Nicole and Herbert Cartagena at the end of the 70's.

Aboriginal settlements
The Manu also holds human settlements up to date. Diverse ethnical groups live within the Manu Jungle. The ones which are mostly known to the outer world are the Machiguenga, Piro, Yora, Yaminahua, Mashcorpio and Amahuaca. In general the relation whom these settlements have with the outer world is very reduced, and it is known that some of them have had no contact with the outer world. This is the way they maintain their ancestral traditions. They are the only humans who are authorized to exploit the natural resources the Manu Park has to offer. In any case its economical activity and subsistence is limited to the hunting, fishing and incipient agricultural production. They do not constitute a large population and are basically nomads of 41,394 inhabitants distributed within 30 communities.
In order to cultivate their agricultural products they mark the piece of land which they will use and burn all the plants to cleanse the field before planting their products. Cultivation in this piece of land will be used maximum only for three years. Passed this time the soil looses its productive conditions. So the piece of land after three years is left to rest for 5 years upon which are used again.
In the highlands of the Manu National Park there are also settlements which are constituted by 30 farming communities. All of them maintain their Quechua language.

Access
The most frequently used route to the National Park of Manu in the Cusco region is the road that takes you from Paucartambo (12 Hrs in 4x4 trucks) up until the locality of Atalaya or Shintuya. From there on you initiate the journey down river until Boca Manu and from there on the River Madre de Dios, until reaching the entrance of the Park (Seven or Six more hours).
By airplane you can reach Boca Manu in about 45 minutes.
The tourist activity in Manu is very restricted. The access authorization is only given to tourist through authorized Tour Operators. Individually or privately you will not be allowed to access