Güembé, the most animal refuge in Bolivia

We visit Biocentro Güembé, one of the major natural attractions of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Located a few kilometers from the center of the Bolivian city, this wildlife refuge offers a fascinating biodiversity.

What began two decades ago with the construction of a butterfly to attract visitors has become a landmark in Santa Cruz. Apart from offering accommodation and a varied recreational offer, Güembé currently functions as an animal shelter. Exotic species seized by the police or rejected by their owners who can not return to their natural habitat have a place in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

One of the species of butterflies that can be found in the Biocentro Güembé.

We were particularly struck by the butterfly, where you can see more than 50 species of lepidoptera. And the aviary, a huge cage that exceeds 2,500 square meters. Strolling through this structure was quite an experience. Before entering the elevated walkways, the winged hosts greeted us with a roar of songs. When we entered through the door two curious toucans came to us to see who arrived. Shortly afterwards a parrot became enthusiastic with Marta, who offered him the whole time to get on.

The three main cages.

On one side of the structure, a tower rises up to 30 meters high, from which you can see the exterior of the cage. The impressive views of the city of Santa Cruz and the singing of parrots, parrots and magpies create a curious combination. Meanwhile, the wind hits the outside of the aviary with force. We descend to the ground, where the paths are surrounded by vegetation and the birds flock to their feeders.

In a short walk we reach the tortugario, where one of the turtles came running to see us. Here animals have been so accustomed to human contact that it is difficult to avoid certain habits. One of the saddest faces of Gembembe are the birds that rip off their wings and nails, stressed after years of living in captivity. Although we also felt very sorry for the iguana they have in the terrarium, because of the small space in which it is.

Los monos araña son una de las especies que más nos cautivaron.

However, the recovered animals that most captivated us were the spider monkeys. The center recently received three females, pets that had been rejected by their owners. When we approached the cage where they were, one of them came to offer his hand and looked at us with eyes and a practically human expression. Since then, every time we passed by, he came to offer us his hand. When we left we were about to open a new cage, much larger, so that the three spider monkeys and a male who was to come could live in a larger and suitable space. We hope that our three furry friends are more at home there.

The tapir was recovered after it was seized to a well-known narco.

Other animals of the Gembembé bioparque have very curious stories. Like the tapir case. When I asked how an anta (a kind of tapir) had gotten there, they explained that it had been the property of a well-known drug trafficker. After being seized by the police, the animal came to the center. This was how Güembé took over and placed him in a green space with a cabin and a small lagoon in the center.

A monkey in Güembé.

A lazy stroll through the roof of the Biocentro orquidiario Güembé..

Beyond the welcome animals, what we liked most of the park was the amount of beasts that we could see in the open air. We have always had a special weakness for the lazy, a species that moves freely in Güembé, with its slow and lethargic movements. On two occasions we were able to see the lazy man in the orchid garden, one of the most special places in the park. And in one of them a pair of tucans settled on one of the trees. Strolling along the trails we crossed with whole families of monkeys. One after another, they jump through the trees, letting themselves be heard with their characteristic screams, in the face of our constant admiration.

The orchid garden is one of the most magical places in Güembé, with its energetic structure.

As we said, the orchid is a unique place. The family that runs the Güembé ecopark has always had a weakness for meditation. So he used to put different energy points and reflection in the place. In the orchid garden, a stone structure with a hole in the ceiling lets in the solar rallos on the noon. Below, a seven-pointed star shines every time it gives the sun. Among the trees, a Buddha of light accompanies the visitor who approaches this point. A place that really calls for reflection in a natural environment and surrounded by flora and fauna. You can know all the details in his web www.biocentroguembe.com .