Protected Areas
Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area
Kanashen is Guyana’s newest and largest protected area, covering about 3% of the country’s land area. It is home to the Wai Wai people and is the only indigenous-owned territory in the protected area system. Located at the southern tip of Guyana, this remote landscape is dominated by Amazonian forests and an interesting mix of animals, including giant bird-eating tarantulas the size of dinner plates, grunting tiger-striped catfishes and almost 350 species of birds. The community’s role as owners and managers of the area represents a new and innovative approach to conservation in Guyana.
Found in Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area
Harpy Eagle
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), also known as Yaymo in Wai-Wai, is the most powerful bird of prey in the world with claws strong enough to pull monkeys out of trees. This eagle has broad wings, a long tail, and a distinct black chest band on its white underbody. The eagle preys on monkeys, sloths, other mammals, large birds, and snakes. Harpy Eagles build large stick nests and usually lay only 1-2 eggs per year. This bird is rare because its habitat is in large, intact forests, which are becoming increasingly difficult for eagles to find because of human activities, such as logging, which destroy intact forests. Kanashen is one of the last places left in the world with large uncut forests where Harpy Eagles can live. The Kanuku Mountains are also an important habitat for these majestic birds.
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Bush Dog
The Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus) is a small wild canid found in forests across parts of Central and South America. It has a compact body, short legs, small rounded ears, and partially webbed toes that help it move through wet forest habitats. Bush Dogs are social animals that live and hunt in groups. Their diet includes agoutis, pacas, armadillos, and other small to medium-sized mammals. They use hollow logs, burrows, and other sheltered areas for resting and raising young. Bush Dogs require large areas of forest with sufficient prey and are affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. Kanashen contains large areas of intact forest that provide suitable habitat for this species.
Azure Poison Dart Frog
The Azure Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) is a small frog found in the tropical forests of northern South America. It is recognised by its blue colouration, which can vary in shade and pattern between individuals. The species is primarily active during the day and feeds on small invertebrates, including ants and other insects. It lays eggs in moist areas, and the adults later carry the tadpoles to small water-filled sites where they develop. The toxins found in wild poison dart frogs are associated with compounds obtained through their diet. The species depends on humid forest conditions and suitable breeding sites. This species is restricted to intact, mature forests of Guyana’s southern border.