Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge |
|
|---|---|
Los Guatuzos
|
|
 Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge
Location in Nicaragua
|
|
| Location | south Nicaragua |
| Area | 437.5 km2 (168.9 sq mi) |
| Official name: Los Guatuzos | |
| Designated: | 30 July 1997 |
| Reference #: | 915 |
The Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge (in Spanish: Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos) is a special protected area in Nicaragua. It covers about 437.5 km2 (168.9 sq mi) of land. You can find it south of Lake Nicaragua and west of the San Juan River.
This refuge is a unique mix of tropical wetlands and rainforest. It's the only tropical wetland in Nicaragua that is recognized internationally.
What is Los Guatuzos?
Los Guatuzos is a very important place for nature. UNESCO has called it a biosphere reserve. This means it's a special area where people try to balance nature conservation with human activities. It's also on the list of important wetlands by the Ramsar Convention.
Inside the refuge, there's a place called the Ecological Center of Los Guatuzos. This center is for research, but it also welcomes visitors. You can go on guided tours, explore the park, and even stay overnight.
The center has some cool attractions too:
- A butterfly farm, where you can see many beautiful butterflies.
- A nursery for turtles and caimans, helping these young animals grow safely.
- An orchid display, showing off 92 different kinds of these amazing flowers.
Animals of Los Guatuzos
Los Guatuzos is full of amazing animals. More than 389 types of birds live here all the time. Plus, thousands of birds that travel long distances visit the refuge often.
Some of the animals you might see include:
- Caimans and crocodiles: These are large reptiles that live in the water.
- Jaguars: Big, powerful wild cats.
- Monkeys: Many different kinds of monkeys swing through the trees.
- Feral pigs: Wild pigs that roam the area.
There are also ancient types of fish in the refuge. One special fish is the Atractosteus tropicus, also called a gaspar. It has fangs and a long snout. This helps it catch other fish, turtles, and crabs for food.
Besides birds and fish, the refuge is home to:
- 81 kinds of Amphibians (like frogs and toads).
- 136 kinds of reptiles (like snakes and lizards).
- 42 kinds of mammals (like jaguars and monkeys).
Plants of Los Guatuzos
The refuge is also rich in plants. Twelve different rivers flow through this area, which helps many plants grow. There are 315 different kinds of plants in total. This includes 130 types of beautiful orchids.
More to Explore
In Spanish: Los Guatuzos para niños
- Wildlife of Nicaragua
- Tourism in Nicaragua
- Protected areas of Nicaragua
- World Network of Biosphere Reserves
