Sunchubamba is a game reserve in the region of

Cajamarca Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Peru ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

History

The area of the reserve was formerly part of Casa Grande

hacienda An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

which was closed in the past century due to the low prices of sugar and the Peruvian agrarian reform. The present protected area was established in 1977.

Geography

Sunchubamba Game Reserve is located in

Cajamarca Province Cajamarca Province is a province of the Cajamarca Region in Peru. The capital of the province is Cajamarca. Geography One of the highest elevations of the province is the Llusk'a Qullpa mountain range at approximately on the border of the distr ...

, in the region of

. Its spans an area of .

Ecology

Flora

Plant species from native forests in the area include: molle ('' Schinus molle''), aliso (''

Alnus acuminata ''Alnus acuminata'' is a species of deciduous tree in the Betulaceae family. It is found in montane forests from central Mexico to Argentina.Zuloaga, F. O., O. N. Morrone, M. J. Belgrano, C. Marticorena & E. Marchesi. (eds.) 2008. Catálogo de la ...

)'', '' Festuca dichoclada'', '' Solanum sanchez-vegae'', etc. There are also more than 500 hectares of plantations of introduced species like: ''

Grevillea robusta ''Grevillea robusta'', commonly known as the southern silky oak, silk oak or silky oak, silver oak or Australian silver oak, is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae. It is a tree, the largest species in its genus but is not closely rela ...

Pinus radiata ''Pinus radiata'' ( syn. ''Pinus insignis''), the Monterey pine, insignis pine or radiata pine, is a species of pine native to the Central Coast of California and Mexico (Guadalupe Island and Cedros island). It is an evergreen conifer in the fa ...

'' and ''

Cupressus ''Cupressus'' is one of several genera of evergreen conifers within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others, see cypress. It is considered a polyphyletic group. Based on genetic and morphological analysis, the ge ...

spp''.

Fauna

Animals considered game in this area are: the native

white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

and the introduced

red deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of wes ...

. Minor game are: the

black-winged ground dove The black-winged ground dove (''Metriopelia melanoptera'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Taxonomy and systematics The black-winged ground dove has two sub ...

and the

Andean tinamou The Andean tinamou (''Nothoprocta pentlandii'') is a tinamou, found commonly in high-altitude shrubland, in the Andes of South America.Clements, J. (2007) Taxonomy All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also rati ...

. The red deer was introduced for the first time in 1945 (3 individuals), but the locals killed them because they were afraid of how they looked like. In 1948, other 30 red deer were introduced and by 1972 there were around 200-360 deer in the reserve. Animals protected in this area include: the

tapeti The common tapeti (''Sylvilagus brasiliensis''), also known as the Brazilian cottontail, forest cottontail, or (formerly) simply tapeti is a species of cottontail rabbit. It is small to medium-sized with a small, dark tail, short hind feet, and s ...

, the

Andean fox The culpeo (''Lycalopex culpaeus''), also known as culpeo zorro, Andean zorro, Andean fox, Paramo wolf, Andean wolf,Comparative ecology of two South American foxes, 'Dusicvon ariseus' and 'culpaeus' by Warren E. Johnson. Doctoral dissertation. Io ...

, the

vizcacha Viscacha or vizcacha (, ) are rodents of two genera (''Lagidium'' and ''Lagostomus'') in the family Chinchillidae. They are native to South America and convergently resemble rabbits. The five extant species of viscacha are: *The plains vis ...

, the

variable hawk The variable hawk (''Geranoaetus polyosoma'') is a polymorphic species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is widespread and often common in open habitats in western and southern South America, including the Falkland Islands. Its ta ...

, the American kestrel, the aplomado falcon, etc.

Activities

Trophy hunting Trophy hunting is a form of hunting for sport in which parts of the hunted wild animals are kept and displayed as trophies. The animal being targeted, known as the "game", is typically a mature male specimen from a popular species of collectable ...

is the main activity in the area. Scientific research has also been carried out in the area, even before its designation as a game reserve: a

cloud seeding Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical p ...

program was performed in the 1950s and 1960s at the then hacienda and surrounding areas as part of a program to fight drought in the region.

References

External links

Sunchubamba Game Reserve. Official site (in Spanish).Sunchubamba Game Reserve. Official map.Sunchubamba Game Reserve. Google maps 3D view.Video of American kestrel in Sunchubamba.
{{Natural and Cultural Peruvian Heritage Protected areas established in 1977 Geography of Cajamarca Region Tourist attractions in Cajamarca Region Game reserves