Wildlife of Manu National Park, Peru
Manu descends from Andean cloud forest to Amazon lowlands, and holds around 15,000 plant species, 1,000+ bird species, and over 200 mammal species — including jaguars, giant otters, and 13 species of monkey. Cocha Salvador is the classic giant-otter lake.
Best timeMay – October dry season.
- 1Manu is possibly the most biodiverse park on Earth — 1,000+ bird species.
- 2The park has intact rainforest from Andes to Amazon.
- 3Uncontacted peoples still live in Manu's core zone.
Signature species
Curated for Manu National Park, Peru, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- NT
Jaguar
Panthera onca
- EN
Giant otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
- LC
Andean cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
- LC
Black caiman
Melanosuchus niger
- VU
Harpy eagle
Harpia harpyja
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Book Manu with certified SERNANP operators.
- Bring quick-dry layers — Amazon storms daily.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't enter the reserved zone without permits.
- Don't touch amphibians — chytrid fungus spreads fast.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 200km, last 30 days.
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