Peruvian Reserve Helps Vicuña Recover From Poaching

In the Ayacucho province of Peru, the Pampa Galeras Bárbara D’Achille National Reserve protects 6,500 hectares of high Andean landscape and provides a haven for vicuña. At least 4,000 vicuña live within the reserve, with another 13,000 inhabiting the surrounding 60,000 hectares. The species faced near extinction due to poaching between the 1950s and 1960s, plummeting from nearly five million individuals to just 5,000.

The reserve, established in 1967, proved crucial for the vicuña’s recovery, now listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Pampa Galeras also safeguards diverse high-altitude fauna like guanacos, vizcachas, and Andean condors, along with unique highland vegetation essential for water filtration.

The reserve’s success demonstrates the impact of conservation efforts on vulnerable species. Protecting this habitat remains vital for maintaining the vicuña population and the broader Andean ecosystem.