Maquipucuna
| Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve | |
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| Location |
Ecuador Choco-Andean Rainforest Corridor; Pichincha Province, Quito Canton |
| Nearest city | Quito |
| Coordinates | 0°00′N 78°21′W / 0°N 78.35°WCoordinates: 0°00′N 78°21′W / 0°N 78.35°W |
| Area | 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) |
| Established | 1987 |
Maquipucuna is a 6,000 hectare (14,820 acre) cloud forest reserve in Ecuador. Located in the Pichincha Province, it is the closest pristine rainforest to Quito, Ecuador's capital. The reserve consists of primary and secondary montane rain forest and cloud forest. The Maquipucuna Reserve is located in the parish of Nanegal, within the Metropolitan District of Quito.
The reserve includes four different habitat zones, from 900 to 2,785 meters above sea level, and is home to a vast diversity of flora and fauna. Located within the Chocó-Andean Corridor, it is in an area known by scientists as one of the world's top five biodiversity hotspots.
Maquipucuna harbors 4% of the world's bird biodiversity, including the toucan barbet, cock-of-the-rock, plate-billed mountain toucan, lanceolated monklet, Esmeraldas antbird, red-headed barbet, and golden-headed quetzal.
At least 45 different species of mammals, such as the armadillo, anteater, agouti, kinkajou, puma, and 19 species of bats have been sighted. South America's only surviving bear species, the spectacled bear, can be found in Maquipucuna during the fruiting season of a small avocado (November and December). The bear is classified as vulnerable, largely due to habitat loss.
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Wikipedia