Loreto – Peru. PW 2004.
Construction of Pithecia Biological Station, located along the Samiria River within Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, was completed successfully. Financing came from the Araucaria Amazonas Nauta Project, Spain’s International Aid Agency, and Loreto’s Regional Government. Additional support came from Pacaya Samiria’s team of professionals and park guards.
Pithecia was for many years an important research center within the reserve and in Loreto. Many international and national scientists conducted research there that recognized Peru’s diversity and its important natural resources. This new biological station could bring back the prestige it had years ago and restore the area’s image among national and international scientific circles.
Today, the biological station can house long-term researchers because it has sufficient number of rooms and ample workspace. The station is equipped with solar energy and has a water system. In addition, there is radio communication.
Pithecia Biological Station is located in the central part of the Samiria River Basin—an exceptionally biologically diverse place, typical of humid tropical rainforests. There are many animal species found here, some of which are considered endangered. Species include the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), collared peccary (Tayassu pecari), capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris); a large number of monkeys including the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), monk saki (Pithecia monachus), Humboldt\’s woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), and black spider monkey (Ateles paniscus); birds include Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), scarlet macaws (Ara macao), and king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa). There are also many important tropical trees typical of the zone including possum wood, “huacapurana” and mahogany.
Because it is located along the Samiria River banks, many aquatic mammals are observed including Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), gray river dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis), Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). In addition, many reptiles inhabit the area including black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and many aquatic frogs.
The biological station will begin operations in early 2005. The station will accept independent researchers, researchers with any international or national University or research center, and university students who are conducting their thesis research (either for their undergraduate or graduate studies). Permits must be obtained by presenting a request to INRENA. For more information, researchers should contact Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. The office is located at 113 Calle Ricardo Palma, 4th floor in Iquitos. Their phone number is 00 51 65 232980.
From: Bosques Amazónicos Virtual Edition, Year 4, Number 18. December 2004, Iquitos, Peru.
ParksWatch – Peru: December, 2004