Emas National Park

The Emas National Park ( Parque Nacional das Emas Portuguese ) is a nature reserve in the central highland savanna ( Cerrado ) of Brazil in the state of Goiás. It was set up in 1961 and declared in 2001, together with the Chapada dos Veadeiros a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The National Park protects a savanna region in the numerous endangered large animal species.

Geography and climate

The 1319 km ² large park is located on the Serra dos Caiapós between 1,000 m on the plateau and 400 meters above sea level in the river valleys. The climate is tropical, hot and moderately humid, with hot and rainy summers and cold, wet winters. The boundaries of the park, which are mostly formed by roads and rivers, forming problems for the wildlife of the area. In addition, numerous bush fires threaten the gallery forests and in some cases endangered species like the Giant Anteater. The relatively slow animals are sometimes killed in the fires.

Flora and Fauna

The Serra dos Caiapós consisting mainly of open grassland, only about a quarter of the area is forested and only 5% make wetlands from. Nevertheless, the flora rich in species with about 600 described species (1999). Particularly well known, however, the park is known for its abundance of animals and the fact that they are found nowhere else so easy to watch in South America in open terrain. Among the 86 species of mammals are different endangered large animal species such as maned wolf, jaguar, giant anteater, giant armadillo and pampas deer. The largest species of the area is the Nandu. Among the total of 354 bird species observed are 12 endangered species; in particular, a number of specialized grassland birds are endemic here.

The jaguar population is relatively small, since only about 40 % of the 1320 square kilometer area represent really good habitat for these big cats. In addition, the population is largely isolated because the surrounding areas are strongly influenced by urban sprawl and soy plantations. It is estimated that a total of about 10-12 Jaguars live in the area of the National Park and in the immediately adjacent areas. In addition to the maned wolf three other kinds of dogs in the park occur. The Brazilian Kamp fox is a very characteristic type of Cerrado savannah region, while the Maikong is relatively widespread. As a third type finally comes, though rarely, the forest has a dog. Other predators are puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, Pampas Cat, South American Coati, Crab-eating Raccoon, Skunk Amazon, tayra, grison and South American otters. Larger herbivores are represented in the park next to the Pampas deer by South American tapir, White-lipped Peccary, Collared Peccary, swamp deer, red brocket deer and gray brocket deer. With Black howler monkeys and Haubenkaupziner the reserve is also home to two species of monkeys. The Aardvark is next to the Great Anteater another in the park native species of this family. Nine-banded Armadillo, Seven -banded Armadillo Six -banded Armadillo and Large naked-tailed armadillo represented together with the giant armadillo, the family of armadillos. In addition, numerous opossums, bats and rodents, such as South American giant rats occur. The largest rodent species of the area is the capybara. Other species that are actually very typical of the Cerrado savannas, as the Tapeti, the marmosets and Thrichomys apereoides missing in the national park.