IUCN Management Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve)

Biogeographical Province Geographical Location The Reserve is situated approximately 15km northeast of Illapel, (the capital city of the IV Chilean Administrative Region in the Province of Choapa) near the village of Auco. The Reserve is situated in mountainous terrain shaped partly of various river basins i.e. El Cobre, El Pollo, Torca, Chillan, Las Mollacas, Las Yeguas and Las Gredas, all tributaries of the river Auco estuary. There are several hills in the area of altitudes varying from 1,000 to 1,400m above sea level. This reserve is 200km away from the actual Fray Jorge National Park/Biosphere Reserve. 71°06'20" West-31°30'3" South

Date and History of Establishment 30 November 1983

Area 4,229ha

Land Tenure State

Altitude 375-1,427m above sea level

Physical Features The Auco area is characterized by its broken topography, with low hills cut by narrow streams flowing east/west and west/east but which all run into the Auco estuary in a north/south direction. The soil is sand or near-sand, completely deficient in nitrogen with rocks and Cretaceous sedimentation. Mean annual temperature is 15.5°C and rainfall 215mm at 375m above sea level.

Climate No information

Vegetation 6 main communities of vegetation can be identified in the area; Porlieria chilensis, Colliguaya odorifera and C. odorifera-Proustia cinerea on the southern slopes, Flourencia thurifera and Bridgesia incisaefolia on the north and Adesmia microphylla on both slopes. The vegetation species which can be found in smaller quantities are pircun Anisomeria litoralis, romerillo Baccharis linearis, michay Berberis glomerata, rumpiato Bridgesia incisaefolia, Caesalpinea angulicaulis, alcaparra Cassia coquimbensis. Chamissonia dentata, panqui Cestrum parqui, Chuquiraga acicularis, carboncillo Cordia decandra, papa cimarrona Dioscorea humifussa, pingo pingo Ephedra andina, alfilerillo E. rodium cicutarium, incienso Flourensia thurifera, lengua de gato Galium chilense, pichanilla or monte amarillo Guitierrezia paniculata, Glandularia sulphurea, palo negro Heliotropoum stenophyllum, cola de raton Hordeum murinum, pacul Krameria cistoidea, tupa Lobelia polyphylla, atutemo Llagunoa glandulosa, coironcillo Nasella chilensis, doradillo Notholaena mollis, churco Oxalis gigantea, flor del queltehue Pasithaea coerulea, Proustia bacchaaroides, llanten Plantago tumida, puya Puya berteroniana, Sisyrinchium junceum, tomatillo Solanum tomatillo, colihuillo Stipa plumosa, soldadito Tropaeclum azureum, T. tricolor, T. violaeflorum, copao Trichocereus coquimbensis, quisco T. chloensis and Viola asterias.

Fauna The only known population of Chinchilla lanigera, listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red Data book, live in the area. Predominant mammals are: opossum Marmosa elegans, bat Chiroptera spp. common rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, brown hare Lepus europaeus, leaf-eared mouse Phyllotis darwinii, chinchilla Chinchilla lanigera, degus Octodon degus, coruro Spalocopus cyanus, chinchilla rat Abrocoma bennetti, South American grey fox Dusicyon griseus, Colpeo fox Dusicyon culpaeus, little grison Galictis cuja, puma Felis concolor, pampas cat F. colocolo. The following species of avifauna are also found: Chilean tinamou Northoprocta perdicaria, Andean condor Vultur gryphus, black vulture Coragyps atratus, turkey vulture Cathartes aura, black-chested buzzard-eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus, Harris's hawk Parabuteo unicincitus, cinereous harrier Circus cinereus, white-tailed kite Elanus leucurus, American kestrel Falco sparverius, white-throated caracara Phalcoboenus albogularis, California quail Lophortyx californica, Chilean pigeon Columba araucana, Picui ground dove Columbina picui, burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus, barn owl Tyto alba, great horned owl Bubo virginainus, burrowing owl Speotyto cbuicularia, ferruginous pygmy-owl Glaucidium brasilianum, band-winged nightjar Caprimulgus longirostris, firecrown Sephanoides galeritus, giant hummingbird Patagona gigas, striped woodpecker Picoides lignarius, dusky-tailed canastero Asthenes humicola, earthcreeper Upucerthia sp., moustached turca Pteroptochos megapodius, white-throated tapacul Scelorchilus albicollis, tufted tit-tyrant Anaeretes parulus, rufous-tailed plantcutter Phytotoma rara, blue and white swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca, house wren Troglodytes aedon, Chilean mockingbird Mimus thenca, Austral thrush Turdus falcklandii, Austral blackbird Curaeus curaeus, long-tailed meadowlark Sturnella loyca, mourning sierra-finch Phrygilis fruticeti, common diuca finch Diuca diuca, rufous-collared sparrow Zonotrichia capensis, and Puna yellowfinch Sicalis luteola.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities There is no particular environmental education scheme at present but one is expected to be implemented in the near future, as there is an exhibition centre of some 80 sq.m. already.

Scientific Research and Facilities There has been past and present research for better information regarding the chinchilla and its environment as well as monitoring of flora, fauna and soils.

There is good access into the area and adequate housing for 5 scientists but no laboratories. There are plots of land which are used for experimentation.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management This was private property until recently but was acquired by the State in May 1983 with the aim of establishing Chinchillas National Reserve there, which was created by Supreme Decree No.153, 30 November 1983 as published in the Official Bulletin of 22 February 1984.

There is no system of zoning in the reserve at present but one is expected in the near future.

Management Constraints The reserve area has a history of disturbances especially by excessive grazing by goats, felling, coal mining, capture of certain types of fauna (chinchillas) until they were almost exterminated and agriculture. Today the area is protected from these activities and has recovered in some regions, but is still eroded. Grazing is carried on at present and there are national motor-routes and railways running through the territory.

Staff For six years the sector has been guarded by park wardens belonging to the National Forest Corporation.. The reserve is being completely fenced. There are 4 people working in the reserve - l part-time scientist and 3 other workers.

Budget No information

Local Addresses

Corporacion Nacional Forestal IV Region,

Cordovez 281, La Serena, Chile.

References

Albert, F. (1900) La chinchilla. Anales de la Universidad de Chile, Memorias Cientificas y Literaries 107: 915 -934, November.

Ayala, M. E. (1972) La chinchilla. Ministerio de Agricultura. Serie Técnica No.47. Madrid. 56pp

Bennett, E.T. (1835). On the chinchillidae, a family of Herbivorous Rodents, and on a new genus referable to it. Trans. Zool. Soc.

Cabrera, A. (1960). Acerca de las chinchillas. Actas y trabajos del Primer Congreso Sudamericano de Zoologia. (La Plata). 4:

Dennler, J. (1940) Contribuciones al estudio de la chinchilla, las épocas del celo y de las pariciones. An. Soc. Cient. Argenitna 130: 129-136.

Grau, J. (1974). La chinchilla, su crianza en todos los climas. Ediciones Cientificas Oikos S.R.L., Buenos Air es, 270 pp.

Hernandez, J. E. (1981) Chile, pais de chinchillas. Corporacion de Fomento de la Produccion. Comite Indus. Cuero y Calzado. 23/8/71 6pp.

MacClintock, D. (1966). Chinchilla.. Pacific Discoveryb 19 (3): 18-25.

Taber, R.D., Miller S., Nad Rottman, J. (1974) Rare and endangered mammals of Chile. Final Report to WWF . Proj. No.879.

Zimmerman, V.W., (1962). Zur Domestikation der Chinchillas. (Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics). Zietschirft für Tierzuchtung und zuchtungsbiologic 76: 343-348.

Date No information