Location Coquimbo Region, Chile Area 42.29 km² Established November 30, 1983 | Nearest city Illapel Phone +56 51 224 4769 | |
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Governing body Corporación Nacional Forestal Address Illapel, Coquimbo Region, Chile Similar Pingüino de Humboldt, Bosque de Fray Jorge National, Los Queules National, Los Bellotos del Melad, Isla Mocha National Reserve | ||
Las Chinchillas National Reserve is a nature reserve located in the Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. The reserve gives shelter to the last colonies of Long-tailed Chinchillas in the wild.
Biology
In addition to the chinchillas, other small mammals (mainly rodents), two fox species and felines like the Puma inhabit the reserve and surrounding hills. Actually only about half of the wild chinchillas are located within the reserve boundaries. The other half live on private and communally owned lands.
The reserve is home to a number of species of birds, including the Chilean mockingbird, Chilean tinamou, long-tailed meadowlark, moustached turca and Harris's hawk. Owl species inhabiting the park include the burrowing owl, austral pygmy-owl and great horned owl. The Andean condor can also be seen in the area.