Peru culture and wildlife holiday

Environment
In northern Peru a remote rural community has made a decision to preserve their natural resources and established the first privately-owned reserve in Peru. The Andean or Spectacled Bear Tremarctos Ornatus is globally endangered and threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting. Chaparri and the surrounding areas are the last refuge of the dry forest population of Andean Bears; generally the species is found in humid mountain forests and parámo habitats. In Chaparri we are working to protect the wild bear population through direct protection and outreach and education of local people to reduce hunting. We know that at least 11 Andean Bears used the Chaparri valley in a one year survey period and are now working on understanding more about their habitat needs and dispersal routes by using satellite telemetry to monitor their movements. Chaparri is also home to the only dedicated Andean Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Peru.

This specially designed facility is currently home to 7 bears that have been confiscated from illegal captivity by government authorities and passed to Chaparri. Many of these bears arrive undernourished and having lived in incredibly poor conditions. In Chaparri they are fed a balanced diet and get to live in large enclosures within their natural habitat. A recent expansion of this facility means we now have 6 enclosures. It is hoped that some of the bears will be able to be reintroduced to their natural habitat. Bears that cannot be reintroduced are maintained in enclosures where the public can visit and learn about the species.

The big male of Chaparri, at approximately 8 years old, he is in the prime of his life and weighs 59kg. He came to Chaparri in 2003 having been kept in the yard of a rice mill in Lambayeque. He is in great physical condition and lives in the largest enclosure where he climbs trees and cliffs. Unfortunately he is unafraid and even hostile towards people making reintroduction impossible.

The reserve is a key site for conservation at an international level. The reserve lies within the Tumbesian region which is famous for its many unique species and is widely recognised as one of the world’s highest conservation priorities, by groups including BirdLife International, Conservation International, IUCN, The Nature Conservancy and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The reserve supports many species endemic to the Tumbesian region and seven that are considered globally threatened with extinction by the IUCN. These include the critically threatened White-winged Guan which now has a wild population of less than 200 individuals and the Spectacled Bear. We still know relatively little about the reserve as is indicated by the discovery of a new species of Porcupine here in 2004.

The reserve is a private Conservation Area recognised by the Peruvian Government and owned by the Rural Community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape. It is managed by a committee appointed by the community and supports some 214 birds species, 21 mammals and 20 reptiles and amphibians.

The Chaparri project has received support and funding from groups including:

American Bird Conservancy

American Zoo and Aquarium Association

Fundacion Backus

Conservation International

Neotropical Bird Club

Stutgart Zoo

Liseux Zoo

UNDP

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.

Chaparri is the site of Peru’s first wildlife rescue centre designed specifically for Spectacled Bears. Seven bears that have been confiscated from illegal captivity are currently housed in large semi-wild enclosures that provide the bears a stimulating natural environment in which to live. Visitors may visit some of these enclosures with a local guide and watch bears in their natural habitat and learn more about these threatened animals. Chaparri also receives a selection of other rescued animals (Ocelot, Andean Condor, King Vulture, Military Macaw recently) which occur in the area and these may also be seen.

The lodge has 6 en-suite double cabins and five double rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Additional en-suite cabins will be built in the coming months. All buildings are constructed in traditional style of local materials (adobe and stone) to ensure they blend into the environment, reduce the carbon footprint of importing materials and provide local jobs during construction. Hot water is provided from solar water heaters. Electricity is provided from solar panels. Used waters are treated through a sedimentation tank and horizontal flow reedbed treatment system before being used for irrigation.

To mitigate against the carbon dioxide released into the high atmosphere through air travel we are giving £10 per client to Rainforest Concern. Rainforests have a central role to play in the slowing of climate change and yet we are removing forests from the planet at a faster rate than they can grow back. It is thus axiomatic to try and preserve the forests that we have rather than replanting. We were one of the first companies to include a compulsory payment in all of our tours, back in 1997.

Community
The reserve generates employment for local people, providing an alternative to subsistence and small scale agricultural production and working as itinerant labourers in the large plantations. These jobs include park guards, ecotourism guides and working with species recovery programs. There is a reserve entrance fee for each visitor which is used to fund some key activities and also to support the local schools and health posts within the community. Additionally projects to develop and implement sustainable alternatives such as organic honey production and native cotton production are being implemented. The reserve also provides opportunity for free enterprise through the selling of souvenirs and foods to visitors.

The Chaparri Private Conservation Area was established by the local community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape in 2000. The community established the reserve to protect their natural resources and to allow them to seek for sustainable alternatives to reduce poverty and improve standards of living in the area. The community embarked upon this integrated conservation development approach under their own initiative and with the support of a local conservation development organisation, Asociacion Naymlap. The creation of the reserve required a new piece of legislation to be created recognising privately owned conservation areas.

Heinz is the vision behind Chaparri. A wildlife photographer turned conservationist. After two decades traveling throughout Peru taking photos of wildlife and seeing many conservation projects, he returned to Chaparri in 1996 and was inspired to work with the community in conservation. He is a now a community member and directs all aspects of the project. His work has been internationally recognised when he was awarded the prestigious Schubert Prize in 2004.

The menu uses local produce where possible and is a fusion of traditional local cuisine with international elements prepared by staff from the local community – food cooked in the traditional earth oven is a particular speciality. All meals are served in a buffet style. Vegetarian options are available with prior notice.