Tambopata National Reserve

giant otter - peru - manu - conservation

Tambopata National Reserve is located south of the Madre de Dios River and its buffer zone extends from the native community of Casinba to the Heath river, with an area of 186 450 ha.

Few large lakes are found in the Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone. Lake Sandoval and Cocococha within the Reserve, and the Tres Chimbadas lake within the buffer zone, are together the key areas for the population of Giant Otters in Tambopata. Other lakes and streams have small groups and provide habitat for solitary individuals but breeding in these areas is sporadic (as well as being hard to monitor) and most cubs originate from the larger lakes.

Gold-mining activity in the region has meant that some areas, such as the Malinowski river that previously had several breeding groups of otters are now highly disturbed, polluted with mercury and fuel oil, and are no longer suitable for Giant Otters.

In 2008 the three main lakes held a population of 15 Giant Otters and produced 5 cubs. The overall population in these lakes has declined from a maximum of 23 individuals in 2004; this decline has been especially marked in Lake Sandoval where the groups has declined from 5 in 2002 to 3 otters. In Tres Chimbadas we are hopefully seeing a recovery with 5 Otters in 2008 and successful breeding for the first time since 2005. This is probably the result of improved management as the community of Infierno has recently established a conservation area along the shore of the lake.