Foz do Iguaçu attracts visitors and attention from all over the world due to its exuberant nature and, within this context, the city stands out in Brazil for being the only one to have three institutions dedicated to the management and care of fauna. Here, wild animals find refuge and help conserve their species in the natural environment, either through breeding programs or education and awareness-raising activities for visitors. It is estimated that 1 million people visit these institutions in Foz do Iguaçu each year and carry with them the message that we need to build a better world for all forms of life.
One of these institutions is celebrating its one-year anniversary. It's Ecopark. Its origins actually go back much further, when Leandro Mautone, from São Paulo, emigrated to Italy. There, he spent 15 years working in renowned institutions such as the Oltremare Park and the Genoa Aquarium, where he learned the techniques of falconry. This is an ancient art that encourages the partnership between humans and birds of prey, and was recognized as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Back in Brazil in 2017, Leandro went to work at the Rio de Janeiro Zoo, which was then looking to implement falconry to improve bird care, provide new educational experiences and control synanthropic animals.
The work in Rio de Janeiro yielded good experiences and fruit, making it possible to meet biology students Bruno Nogueira and Larissa Vasconcelos. Bruno and Larissa, as trainees, learned all the falconry techniques from Leandro. But something was missing. Leandro still wanted to create something that would not only make falconry known in Brazil, but also increase people's connection with birds of prey. After two and a half years in Rio de Janeiro, it was time to take new flights.
Leandro and Bruno with falconry equipment at Rio de Janeiro Zoo.
Bruno trains a red-tailed hawk at Rio de Janeiro Zoo.
Spreading your wings in Foz do Iguaçu
In 2019, Leandro and now biologists Bruno and Larissa founded a Falconry Center in Foz do Iguaçu, located on Silmar Benitez Street. There were only the three of them as employees to carry out the activities at the institution, which included not only looking after owls, hawks, hawks and vultures, but also giving training demonstrations of these animals to incoming visitors. This training is a fundamental part of the birds' routine, stimulating natural behaviors and helping to rehabilitate those that have been rescued from accidents or mistreatment.
The Falconry Center has established itself as a well-known and respected institution in the city. However, the land on Silmar Benitez became too small to house the birds that arrived in need of care and it soon became clear that an expansion was needed to provide a better service to the animals. So, in 2021, Leandro started a partnership with the Dreams Group, which sought to fulfill its socio-environmental mission.
Attendance for visitors at the Silmar Benitez Street facilities.
Bruno conducts a flying demonstration for visitors at the Silmar Benitez Street facility.
The partnership with the Dreams Group led to the Falconry Center changing location and evolving to become the Ecopark, which opened in December 2022. Its mission has also grown. Now, it is not just a center for the treatment and rehabilitation of birds of prey and the promotion of falconry, but an institution dedicated to telling the story of humanity's relationship with animals. Ecopark has created a small farm with domestic animals and an immersion nursery to be a new home for birds and reptiles that have suffered at human hands due to mistreatment. 102 animals were sent to the Ecopark by the Water and Land Institute of Paraná during the first year alone.
Visitors are invited to learn about this work through controlled interaction with the animals on the little farm and by watching demonstrations of exercises by the Creole horse, a typical Brazilian breed, and the flight of birds of prey. This demonstration is based on Leandro's presentations in Europe and is the only one of its kind in South America so far. The flight of the birds of prey takes place every day at 10:30 and 16:00.
Visitors pet a mini-pig at the Ecopark farm.
Children interact with rabbits at the Ecopark farm.
Visitors interact with horses and their caretakers at the Ecopark.
Demonstration of the flight of birds of prey at the Ecopark.
Celebrate to go further for nature
This purpose of showing humanity's relationship with animals has led to a greater commitment to act in favor of the conservation of species and their natural environments. Ecopark is proud to be celebrating its first anniversary as a partner of the Iguaçu Jaguars Project, which studies and promotes peaceful coexistence between humans and these cats in the region. This is essential, given that the largest population of jaguars in the Atlantic Forest, around 95 animals, is in the Iguaçu National Park. One of the biggest problems faced by the jaguar is hunting in retaliation for attacks on farms and ranches. As a way of preventing these situations, Ecopark and Onças do Iguaçu launched the "Ciscando o Futuro" program to build predation-proof chicken coops. These hen houses guarantee safe rearing without the risk of conflict with jaguars and add value to the eggs produced, which are promoted as "Friends of the Jaguar" products by the project. The first such structure was inaugurated on November 8 in the city of Matelândia.
Ecopark team at the handover of the first chicken coop of the "Scratching the Future" program.
The Ecopark's commitment to building a better world for all forms of life will lead it to celebrate its anniversary on December 4, which has been designated World Wildlife Conservation Day. The first 100 visitors to arrive at the park that day will receive a very special and very natural gift, and throughout the week there will be a series of interactive activities with the animals, from feeding to environmental enrichment workshops. This is not just a time for celebration, however. Ecopark also wants to reflect on how it can do more for animals and people. This is why the institution is dialoguing with zoo experts and researchers in the United States, Australia, Mexico and Brazil to develop what will surely be the next generation of monkey care facilities in the country. The Primate Forest, as it will be called, is being developed to be an environment of the animals, by the animals and for the animals. In it, people will be invited in the same way that they take a hike in the Atlantic Rainforest or Amazon Rainforest. "We want to be a renowned institution not only nationally, but on the American continent. We're celebrating one year of existence in the knowledge that there's still a lot of work to be done and a huge responsibility ahead of us. We need to do more both to help animals and to reconnect people with nature," says Leandro.
Publicizing the future "Primate Forest" in the Ecopark.
The Ecopark is located at 111 Cruz Alta Street, behind the Dreams Park Show complex and can be visited from 9:00 to 17:30. The last visitors enter at 17:00. Admission costs R$ 70.00 per person with a promotional price of R$ 15.00 for residents of Foz do Iguaçu. This promotional price is granted on presentation of proof of residence and a photo ID. Children from zero to five years old get in free.
