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Help protect the Andean cloudforest, home of the newly-discovered olinguito

22nd August 2013 Print

News that the olinguito, a new species of carnivore, has been discovered in the Andean cloudforests of South America is certainly set to raise the profile of this biodiverse and critically-threatened habitat.

Wildlife specialist Naturetrek has long been a supporter of the plight of the cloudforest in Ecuador, investing over £120,000 since 2007 in the purchase of 433 acres of key habitat to form part of a larger reserve, owned and managed by the Ecuadorian conservation organisation, EcoMinga.

Its most recent purchase will help to connect all the reserves and build a ‘corridor’ to ease the movement of wildlife, especially larger mammals, such as mountain tapir, spectacled bear and puma.

Naturetrek is carefully developing wildlife tourism, and awareness of its value, in the region. It currently offers two tempting trips to the Andean cloudforest in Ecuador:

A 15-day Ecuador – The Andes & Amazon birdwatching tour, exploring the threatened western cloudforests, spectacular high páramo and the Amazon basin. A whole host of fascinating bird species await, including the plate-billed mountain toucan, Andean cock-of-the-rock, macaws, flycatchers, birds of prey and many more. The price is from £3,495 pp (two sharing), including return flights (London), lodge and hotel accommodation, most meals, all transport and expert guiding. Departs 6 August 2014 and 5 November 2014.

A pioneering 16-day Andean Flora of Ecuador itinerary, in search of orchids and other very special plants. A dream destination for the budding botanist, the range of habitats (lava flows, subtropical and cloudforest, arid plateaux and craggy passes) means a diversity of flora, including showy orchids and tree-sized flowering mistletoes. The price is from £3,595 pp (two sharing), including return flights (London), lodge and hotel accommodation, most meals, all transport and expert guiding. Departs 24 August 2013 and 23 September 2014.

You never know, you might be among the first to see the olinguito, and you’ll be sure of travelling with an environmentally-sensitive and responsible wildlife operator.

For further information and to book, visit naturetrek.co.uk.