A Conservation Post in a Pristine Forest
San Diego Zoo Global had long been involved in field research in countries around the world, but 2011 brought a new dimension to those efforts. The organization took on management responsibility for a conservation and research station located in the Manu National Park in Peru, located in a beautiful, almost untouched area of Amazon rain forest. The 4 million acre park is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and, as such, is protected as a biosphere preserve. It is perhaps the most biodiverse lowland tropical forests in the world and is considered one of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet. The park is home to more than 1,000 bird species, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, 125 species of mammals, and 40 species of fish, with such rare species as jaguars, giant river turtles, Goeldi’s monkeys, black caimans, lowland tapirs, and giant river otters. The only human inhabitants of the region are indigenous groups including the Machigenga tribe. San Diego Zoo Global staff continues to maintain the station today, making it available for researchers from other organizations and as a premier field research site and training facility for conservation scientists.