Explorer Tambopata Bahuaja Sonene
The Explorer Tambopata Bahuaja Sonene National Reserve and (Peruvian Amazon)
are located in the southern region of Peru, specifically in the province of Tambopata, Madre de Dios department, and
in the provinces of Sandia and Caraballa, Puno department. These areas are highly protected and were created in
1990, occupying a total area of 1,366,106.00 hectares, divided into the National Park with 1,091,416 hectares and the National Reserve with 274,690.00 hectares.
The Parks are part of an ecoregion of the Southwest Amazon Rainforest and contain habitats of tropical rainforest and pre-mountain tropical rainforest.
These natural areas have a great biodiversity of species inhabiting them. The Tambopata River basin is known to be
one of the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity in the world. Here, we find a wide variety of plant communities
with different species of plants, giant trees of great economic importance such as cedar, mahogany, tornillo,
chestnut, and various palms such as pona and aguaje.
The wildlife of this natural reserve harbors a great biodiversity of species.
Among them, we find the giant river otter, a species that is endangered, as well as other species such as the giant
anteater, the giant armadillo, the black spider monkey, the jaguar, the roseate spoonbill, the taricaya turtle, the
anaconda, and others.
However, over the years, these protected areas have faced various threats that endanger their great biodiversity of
species. Agriculture, gold mining, illegal logging, hunting of wildlife, excessive extraction of natural resources, and
the paving of the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado highway are some of the main threats. Additionally, the increase in
migratory processes to the region increases the pressure on these protected areas.
Strict measures are being taken to protect and conserve the Tambopata National Reserve. This Bahuaja Sonene
National Park now represents not only a significant reserve of biodiversity but also an invaluable natural heritage for
Peru and the world – from our Peruvian Amazon