Tingo Maria National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Tingo María) is located in the districts of Rupa Rupa and Mariano Dámaso, in the region of

Huánuco Huánuco (; qu, Wanuku) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huán ...

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 ...

. It was established on May 14, 1965 and its main attractions are the montane forest vegetation and the cave named Cueva de las Lechuzas (Spanish for ''Cave of the Owls'') where the

oilbird The oilbird (''Steatornis caripensis''), locally known as the , is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the only species in the genus ''Steatornis'', the family Steatornith ...

s nest. The park has an area of that include a mountain massif called ''La Bella Durmiente'' (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

for

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

History

In 1940, 2 years after the foundation of the nearby town of

Tingo Maria Tingo is a district of Luya Province in Peru. It borders with Colcamar to the north, Levanto and Magdalena districts of Chachapoyas Province Chachapoyas is a province of the Amazonas Region, Peru. The province of Chachapoyas was a part of th ...

, some forest areas were spared from human development to create a new protected natural area. In 1950, during the dictatorship of

Manuel A. Odría Manuel Arturo Odría Amoretti (26 November 1896 – 18 February 1974) was a military officer who served as the 45th President of Peru, essentially ruling as a military dictator. Biography Early life and military career Manuel Odría was ...

, a protected area called ''Cueva de las Lechuzas National Reserve'' was created in the area of the future national park. On May 14, 1965, Tingo Maria National Park was established by Law No. 15574, which stated that the area include the Bella Durmiente massif, the cave named Cueva de Las Lechuzas and adjacent forests. However, the law didn't specify the total area or the boundaries of the park. In 2000, boundaries were defined and the total area was fixed at 4777,8 hectares.

Geography

Topography in the park is steep and mountainous, because the Bella Durmiente massif occupies almost of its entire extension. Elevations in the park are in the range of 650–1808 m; rocky walls of 300–500 m in height are common. Soils are calcareous, rocky and thin, and landslides due to natural causes or past attempts of agriculture do occur. Tingo Maria National Park is located at the

confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...

of the rivers Huallaga and Monzón (the name tingo, comes from

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

for confluence or meeting). Due to the calcareous nature of the mountains, several rivers in the park have eroded the rock to form underground courses.

Climate

The rainy season in the area goes from October to April, with a mean annual precipitation of 3300 mm. Access to the park in that season is limited due to weather conditions. The annual temperatures in the area have a maximum of 29.8 °C and a minimum of 19.2 °C, being the annual mean 24.5 °C.

Ecology

Flora

Vegetation in the park is characterized by the presence of very humid montane forests frequently covered with mist, and trees covered with epiphyte plants, mosses and lichens due to humidity. Among the most notable plant species in the park are trees like cedro colorado (''

Cedrela odorata ''Cedrela odorata'' is a commercially important species of tree in the chinaberry family, Meliaceae, commonly known as Spanish cedar or Cuban cedar; it is also known as cedro in Spanish. Classification The genus ''Cedrela'' has undergone two m ...

''), palo blanco ('' Cinchona pubescens''), cumala blanca (''

Virola calophylla ''Virola calophylla'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. It is native to Central America and South America, namely Panama, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia (Department of Amazonas, Department of Vaupés), Ecuador ( Napo ...

''), cumala colorada ''(

Iryanthera ''Iryanthera'' is a flowering plant genus in the family Myristicaceae. Species include: *'' Iryanthera campinae'' W.A.Rodrigues *''Iryanthera coriacea'' Ducke *''Iryanthera crassifolia'' A.C. Sm. *''Iryanthera dialyandra'' Ducke *''Iryanthera el ...

laevis''), quinilla (''

Manilkara bidentata ''Manilkara bidentata'' is a species of ''Manilkara'' native to a large area of northern South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Common names include bulletwood, balatá, ausubo, massaranduba, quinilla, and (ambiguously) " cow-tree". D ...

'' subsp. ''surinamensis''), sapotillo (''

Quararibea ''Quararibea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. Species include: *''Quararibea asterolepis'' *''Quararibea aurantiocalyx'' *''Quararibea cordata'' *'' Quararibea dolichopoda'' *'' Quararibea dolichosiphon'' *'' Quararibea ...

macrocalyx''), tulpay (''

Clarisia ''Clarisia'' is a genus of trees in the family Moraceae, native to North and South America (from Mexico to Bolivia). Taxonomy The genus ''Clarisia'' contains the following species: * '' Clarisia biflora'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Clarisia ilicifolia'' ...

racemosa)'' and lagarto caspi (''

Calophyllum brasiliense ''Calophyllum brasiliense'' (guanandi) is a species of plant in the family ''Calophyllaceae''. It is native to subtropical and tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Description It is an evergreen tree grow ...

''); palms like huasaí (''

Euterpe precatoria ''Euterpe precatoria'' is a tall, slender-stemmed, pinnate-leaved palm native to Central and South America and Trinidad and Tobago. ''E. precatoria'' is used commercially to produce fruits, although ''Euterpe oleracea'' is more commonly cultivate ...

''), ungurahui (''

Oenocarpus bataua ''Oenocarpus bataua'', the patawa, sehe, hungurahua (Ecuador) or mingucha, is a palm tree native to the Amazon rainforest. The tree produces edible fruits rich in high-quality oil.Vallejo Rendón, Darío 2002. "Oenocarpus bataua, seje"; ''Colombi ...

''), pona ( ''Iriartea deltoidea''), yarina (''

Phytelephas macrocarpa ''Phytelephas macrocarpa'' is a single-stemmed, unarmed, reclining or erect palm from the extreme northern coastal regions of South America, growing to some 12 m tall. It has been introduced and cultivated in tropical regions all over the world. ...

'') and palmiche (''

Geonoma ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

'' spp.); tree ferns (''

Cyathea ''Cyathea'' is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales. The genus name ''Cyathea'' is derived from the Greek ''kyatheion'', meaning "little cup", and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds. Des ...

'' spp.) and numerous orchids, being the most frequent ''

Phragmipedium ''Phragmipedium'' is a genus of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) (Subfamily Cypripedioideae) and the only genus comprised in the tribe Phragmipedieae and subtribe Phragmipediinae. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek ''phragma'', which ...

'' spp. (although ''

Phragmipedium besseae ''Phragmipedium besseae'' is a species of orchid in the genus ''Phragmipedium''. It is a terrestrial plant native to the wet montane forests on the eastern slope of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru , image_flag = Flag ...

'' is a threatened species).

Fauna

Among the mammals present in the park are the

South American tapir The South American tapir (''Tapirus terrestris''), also commonly called the Brazilian tapir (from the Tupi ''tapi'ira''), the Amazonian tapir, the maned tapir, the lowland tapir, the ''anta'' (Portuguese), and ''la sachavaca'' (literally "bushcow ...

, the

red brocket The red brocket (''Mazama americana'') is a species of brocket deer from forests in South America, ranging from northern Argentina to Colombia and the Guianas. It also occurs on the Caribbean island of Trinidad (it also occurred on the island of ...

, the

collared peccary The collared peccary (''Dicotyles tajacu'') is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed) mammal in the family Tayassuidae found in North, Central, and South America. It is the only member of the genus ''Dicotyles''. They are commonly referred to as ' ...

, the

ocelot The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized. It is native to the southwes ...

, the

black-capped squirrel monkey The black-capped squirrel monkey (''Saimiri boliviensis'') is a species of New-World monkey native to the upper Amazon basin in Bolivia, western Brazil and eastern Peru. They weigh between 365 and 1135 grams and measure, from the head to the b ...

, the

brown-mantled tamarin The brown-mantled tamarin (''Leontocebus fuscicollis''), also known as Spix's saddle-back tamarin, is a species of saddle-back tamarin. This New World monkey is found in the Southern American countries of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru. This omnivorous ...

monkey, the

red-faced spider monkey The red-faced spider monkey (''Ateles paniscus'') also known as the Guiana spider monkey or red-faced black spider monkey, is a species of spider monkey found in the rain forests in northern South America. The species faces issues with hunting a ...

, the

nine-banded armadillo The nine-banded armadillo (''Dasypus novemcinctus''), also known as the nine-banded long-nosed armadillo or common long-nosed armadillo, is a mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. It ...

, the

pacarana The pacarana (''Dinomys branickii'') is a rare and slow-moving Hystricognathi, hystricognath rodent indigenous to South America. Native Tupian languages, Tupi people call it the ''pacarana'' (false paca) because it is superficially similar to the ...

, the

Northern Amazon red squirrel The northern Amazon red squirrel (''Sciurus igniventris'') is a squirrel species from South America. It occurs in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, ...

, the

kinkajou The kinkajou ( /ˈkɪŋkədʒuː/ ''KING-kə-joo''; ''Potos flavus'') is a tropical rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus ''Potos'' ...

, and the

South American coati The South American coati (''Nasua nasua''), also known as the ring-tailed coati, is a coati species and a member of the raccoon family ( Procyonidae), found in the tropical and subtropical parts of South America. An adult generally weighs from ...

. Birds reported in the area are the

Andean cock-of-the-rock The Andean cock-of-the-rock (''Rupicola peruvianus''), also known as ''tunki'' (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. It has ...

, the

white-eyed parakeet The white-eyed parakeet or white-eyed conure (''Psittacara leucophthalmus'') is a small green Neotropical parrot native to South America. Taxonomy First described by German zoologist Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller in 1776, its specific epithet ...

Salvin's curassow Salvin's curassow (''Mitu salvini'') is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, Guan (bird), guans, and curassows. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. J ...

Spix's guan Spix's guan (''Penelope jacquacu'') is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. It is "the prototypical cracid of the Amazonian lowlands."del Hoyo, J. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Spix's Guan (''Penelope jacquacu''), version 1.0. In Birds of the W ...

, the

blue-headed parrot The blue-headed parrot, also known as the blue-headed pionus (''Pionus menstruus'') is a medium-sized parrot of about 27 cm in length. The body is mostly green, with a blue head and neck, and red undertail coverts. It is a resident in tropi ...

, the

king vulture The king vulture (''Sarcoramphus papa'') is a large bird found in Central and South America. It is a member of the New World vulture family Cathartidae. This vulture lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern Mexic ...

, the

Amazonian motmot The Amazonian motmot (''Momotus momota'') is a colorful near-passerine bird in the family Momotidae. It is found in the Amazon lowlands and low Andean foothills from eastern Venezuela to eastern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Taxonomy an ...

, among others.

Activities

Birdwatching Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, b ...

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

and

cultural tourism Cultural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/produ ...

are the main activities in the area.

Environmental issues

Environmental issues that affect the biodiversity of this national park are: the extraction of wood for construction or fuel; the clearance of forest for agricultural crops, coca and pastures; uncontrolled tourism; hunting; fishing with toxins and explosives; the noise of helicopters departing from a nearby airbase; obstruction of an underground river due to debris from deforestation by nearby villages; and the extraction of gravel and other construction materials.

References

External links

Tingo Maria National Park. Profile at protectedplanet.net
{{Authority control National parks of Peru Geography of Huánuco Region Tourist attractions in Huánuco Region 1965 establishments in Peru Protected areas established in 1965

History

Geography

Climate

Ecology

Flora

Fauna

Activities

Environmental issues

See also

References

External links