Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a humid tropical rainforest protected zone in Ecuador
. It is situated in the Putumayo Canton
in the Sucumbíos Province
and in the Aguarico Canton
in the Orellana Province
. It was founded on 26 July 1979. At an altitude of 200– 280 meters, one of the principle objectives of the 6033.8 square kilometres (2,329.7 sq mi) Cuyabeno Reserve is ongoing conservation of the complex Amazonian ecosystem
. The reserve is a complex of rivers, lagoons and floated forest. The protected area is characterized by its high biodiversity and interaction and cooperation between the species inhabiting the area. Its geomorphology is a consequence of the rivers carrying sediment and materials from the Andes, principally by Aguarico River
, which is considered as white water due to the sediment it drags raising water levels and therefore ensuring that the river is navigable all year round. It is considered to be one of the most biodiverse sites in the world together with the neighboring Yasuni National Park
.
and fauna
-wise. It is a complex system of rainy formations, 13 small lakes, rivers and tropical wild forests turning this 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) into a record of highest level of biodiversity in the world.
Within the tropical rain forest vegetation, there is a rich variety of plants such as palms, bromeliads, Ceibos, heliconia, Macrolobium, wild roses and 60 different orchid species. 12000 different plants have been approximately found inside the wildlife reserve. Many are used by the native Indians medically.
Cuyabeno keeps more than 550 different bird species, more than 350 fish species, including piranhas; a great variety of reptiles such as anaconda
s, alligator
s and river turtles. Frequently observed species include various species birds, such as colorful parrots, kingfisher
s and hoatzin
s or Amazon eagle, which flaunts its 8 feet (2.4 m)-wide wingspan, and lots of varieties of beetles and poisonous dart frogs as well.
Amongst the mammals, the tapir
(Tapirus terrestris), freshwater pink dolphins and armadillos can be found.
The river system covers the rivers Aguarico, San Miguel
and Cuyabeno
and their tributaries. Along the Cuyabeno is a system of 14 black-water lagoons, which in the rains of the lowland rain forest from April to July are formed by floods. They are typical of the rainy season and dry during the dry season from December to March, almost completely.
Due to this wildlife reserve belonging to the National Protected Areas System, very few tour operators are qualified to work in this zone. This is why not so many tourists can be found visiting this zone, making it more attractive to enjoy the nature and its magnificent sounds.
, and Secoyas
live by the banks of two important rivers, the Aguarico
and the Cuyabeno
, both affluents of the Amazon. The Siona community lives in the northern part of the reserve, in Puerto Bolivar
and along the Tarapuy river.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. It is situated in the Putumayo Canton
Putumayo Canton
Putumayo Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Sucumbíos Province. Its capital is the town of Puerto Carmen. Its population at the 2001 census was 6,171....
in the Sucumbíos Province
Sucumbíos Province
Sucumbíos is a province in northeast Ecuador. The capital and largest city is Nueva Loja . It is the fifth largest province in the country, with an area of 18,009 km²...
and in the Aguarico Canton
Aguarico Canton
Aguarico Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Orellana Province. Its capital is the town of Nuevo Rocafuerte. Its population at the 2001 census was 4,658.Aguarico is part of the Cuyabeno Natural Reserve and Yasuni National Park.-History:...
in the Orellana Province
Orellana Province
Orellana is an inland province of Ecuador. The capital is Puerto Francisco de Orellana . It was created on July 30, 1998, from part of Napo Province....
. It was founded on 26 July 1979. At an altitude of 200– 280 meters, one of the principle objectives of the 6033.8 square kilometres (2,329.7 sq mi) Cuyabeno Reserve is ongoing conservation of the complex Amazonian ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
. The reserve is a complex of rivers, lagoons and floated forest. The protected area is characterized by its high biodiversity and interaction and cooperation between the species inhabiting the area. Its geomorphology is a consequence of the rivers carrying sediment and materials from the Andes, principally by Aguarico River
Aguarico River
The Aguarico River is a river in northern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo River...
, which is considered as white water due to the sediment it drags raising water levels and therefore ensuring that the river is navigable all year round. It is considered to be one of the most biodiverse sites in the world together with the neighboring Yasuni National Park
Yasuni National Park
Yasuni National Park is in Ecuador with an area of 9,820 km2 between the Napo and Curaray rivers in Napo and Pastaza provinces in Amazonian Ecuador. The park is about 250 km from Quito and was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989...
.
Characteristics
This is a place of great biodiversity, home of one the greatest wildlife concentration places in the world, both floraFlora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
-wise. It is a complex system of rainy formations, 13 small lakes, rivers and tropical wild forests turning this 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) into a record of highest level of biodiversity in the world.
Within the tropical rain forest vegetation, there is a rich variety of plants such as palms, bromeliads, Ceibos, heliconia, Macrolobium, wild roses and 60 different orchid species. 12000 different plants have been approximately found inside the wildlife reserve. Many are used by the native Indians medically.
Cuyabeno keeps more than 550 different bird species, more than 350 fish species, including piranhas; a great variety of reptiles such as anaconda
Anaconda
An anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.Anaconda...
s, alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s and river turtles. Frequently observed species include various species birds, such as colorful parrots, kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s and hoatzin
Hoatzin
The Hoatzin , also known as the Hoactzin, Stinkbird, or Canje Pheasant, is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangrove of the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America...
s or Amazon eagle, which flaunts its 8 feet (2.4 m)-wide wingspan, and lots of varieties of beetles and poisonous dart frogs as well.
Amongst the mammals, the tapir
Tapir
A Tapir is a large browsing mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile snout. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia. There are four species of Tapirs: the Brazilian Tapir, the Malayan Tapir, Baird's Tapir and the Mountain...
(Tapirus terrestris), freshwater pink dolphins and armadillos can be found.
The river system covers the rivers Aguarico, San Miguel
San Miguel River (Ecuador)
The San Miguel River is a river of Ecuador and Peru. For much of its length it forms the international boundary between the two countries.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
and Cuyabeno
Cuyabeno River
River located in Sucumbios in Ecuador, start in the high part of the Cuyabeno Reserve, and ends in the Aguarico River, Cuyabeno in Siona - Secoya Language means "Kindness River""...
and their tributaries. Along the Cuyabeno is a system of 14 black-water lagoons, which in the rains of the lowland rain forest from April to July are formed by floods. They are typical of the rainy season and dry during the dry season from December to March, almost completely.
Due to this wildlife reserve belonging to the National Protected Areas System, very few tour operators are qualified to work in this zone. This is why not so many tourists can be found visiting this zone, making it more attractive to enjoy the nature and its magnificent sounds.
Climate
It corresponds to a wet tropical forest, with precipitations between 0.18 to 0.25 cubic inches per year, and humidity ranges from 85% to 95%. The dry season starts from December until March and the rainy season from April until July. There is a moderate rain season in between August and November. The annual temperature oscillates around 25 °C (77 °F)Ethnology
The Cofans, SionasSiona people
The Siona people are an indigenous ethnic group living in the Ecuadorian Amazon or Oriente , and in Colombia...
, and Secoyas
Secoya people
The Secoya people are an indigenous ethnic group living in the Ecuadorian Amazon or The Oriente region of Ecuador , and in Peru . They speak the Secoya language, part of the Western Tucanoan group...
live by the banks of two important rivers, the Aguarico
Aguarico River
The Aguarico River is a river in northern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo River...
and the Cuyabeno
Cuyabeno River
River located in Sucumbios in Ecuador, start in the high part of the Cuyabeno Reserve, and ends in the Aguarico River, Cuyabeno in Siona - Secoya Language means "Kindness River""...
, both affluents of the Amazon. The Siona community lives in the northern part of the reserve, in Puerto Bolivar
Puerto Bolívar
Puerto Bolivar is part of the municipality of Machala, El Oro Province, Ecuador. Puerto Bolívar is one of the world's largest shipment points for bananas, most of them destined for Europe; about 80% of Ecuador's banana production is shipped through these port facilities.The port was named in honor...
and along the Tarapuy river.