Manu
Lodge, the only lodge inside of the Manu Biosphere Reserve,
located in the middle of the lower portion of the protected
Manu River Basin, has provided support with special conditions
to scientists and researchers from several scientific organizations
since its establishment in 1987.
For over four years, from 1987 to 1991 Manu Lodge contibuted
with Peruvian and foreign researchers working for the
New York Zoological Society on a study to learn about
the ecology of several species of macaws (large parrots).
At the researchers's suggestions MNT invested in logistics,
salaries and materials to build the first artificial nests
to prove the hypothesis that lack of appropriate nest
holes was one of the determinant reasons in the low reproduction
rate for wild macaws. These first "artificial"
nests were built with sections of (Iriartea deltoidea)
palms cut from fallen and rotting trees. Later on, as
these wooden nests proved to be quiet fragile to the powerful
macaws's beaks as well as to nature's elements. MNT supported
the scientific effort once more by building more ellaborate
artificial nests with wide PVC tubing, availailable on
request only, and flown from Lima to Cusco, trucked over
the Andes and finally sent by boat to Manu. Large and
very heavy tube sections were hung in tall trees at some
100 ft. from the forest floor using proffesional climbing
equipment.
Manu Lodge as a base provided macaw researchers with
the unique chance to obtain a great deal of data, during
the worst of the rainy season, when all the forest is
flooded and there is no place to camp, which is exactly
the macaw's nesting season. Researchers found for example
that female macaws produced two eggs, but usually only
the strongest of the two macaw chicks that hatched survived.
Some of these artificial nests are still being used by
pairs of wild macaws along the Manu River nowadays.
Another very interesting study conducted in two field
seasons in Manu was aimed to monitor mammals, using a
standardised trail walk method using the Manu Lodge trail
system, the largest available to tourists in Manu. Some
of the interesting findings show that the mammal population
in the vicinity of Manu Lodge is abundant, particularly
for primate species. It was also evident from the study
that it was actually the trail sections closest to the
lodge, the most productive in terms of mammal sightings.
This suggests that the presence of tourists and researchers
is not having a disturbing effect on the local mammal
populations. This is supported by the fact that one of
the most apprehensive rainforest lowland carnivores, the
Giant Otters visit the lake regularly and have bred there
in several occasions.
Research on bird communities has identified over 500
species in the surroundings of Manu Lodge. Many of these
bird species nest very close the lodge building allowing
researchers and tourists alike with frequent sightings.
These Manu Lodge close bird residents include: black-tailed
tityra, yellow rumped cacique, golden-bellied euphonia,
palm tanager, and masked-crimson tanager, tui parakeet,
ferruginous pygmy owl, and common potoo. The inmediate
vicinity of the Juarez Lake provide with daily sightings
of: striated heron, wattled jaçana, yellow-billed
tern, hoatzin, white-winged swallow, black-capped donacobius,
and red-capped cardinal. Great egret, green ibis, osprey,
and black-collared hawk are also frequent visitors.
In 1992, Manu Lodge launched a Scientific Research Program
to grant five to seven grants aimed at Tropical Research
Institutions around the world who would like to establish
a long-term relationship with our company, and use Manu
Lodge as a scientific base.
These Scientific Research grants provide free ground,
river and air transport for researchers, and their scientific
gear. It also provides free room&board at Manu Lodge.
The same support is provided for scientists who would
like to work in our cloud forest property at 5,000 ft,
along the Cusco-Qosñipata road, where the future
Manu Cloud Forest Lodge is planned to start operation
in 1998. In the past, our company provided support to
the scientific study of the Cock-of-the Rock, and an orchid's
inventory by undergraduate biologists from Cusco.
Every year, during several months, Manu Lodge visitors
benefit from the presence of scientific researchers who
offer on-site field classes on their study subject. Special
talks using slides, maps, and other aids are offered to
every group of Manu Lodge visitors.
All researchers working in Manu Lodge are officially
registered with INRENA, the National Institute of Natural
Resources, and the scientific data collected formally
sent by researchers to the Peruvian authorities. Peruvian
researchers also benefit from the Manu Lodge Research
Program, as foreign scientists must sponsor a Peruvian
counterpart into the Manu rainforest.
