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An expedition from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) entered a protected area in the tropical Andes of Peru to study its biodiversity. As a result, 365 species so far undocumented have been cataloged in the park, including plants, insects, birds, mammals and reptiles.
This is the first large-scale investigation that has been carried out in the Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Peru), protected since 1996. Scientists have identified 30 new species of birds, including the widow eagle ( Spizaetus melanoleucus ) , Wilson's gull ( Phalaropus tricolor ) and the little cuckoo ( Coccycua cinerea ). In addition, two new species of bats and 233 butterflies and moths hitherto unknown have been cataloged.
Julie Kunen, director of WCS programs in the Caribbean and Latin America pointed out the importance of conserving this area, which is truly "one of the jewels in the crown of the impressive network of protected areas in Latin America." WCS also works with local communities to promote a sustainable use of resources such as the use of honey and wood or the cultivation of ornamental flowers and cocoa.
