SPECIAL SPECIES

Here we are: in a park full of hills, valleys, fields, cerrados and forests... surrounded by urban areas, crossed by a highway... and it still protects more than special species! Nevertheless, why ‘so special’? Take a look…

Many species that live here are considered ENDEMIC, that is, they have RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION to some places. For example, the Hyacinth Visobearer, Augastes scutatus, is endemic to the Espinhaço Range. Here we have the cactus Arthocereus glaziovii, which is an endemic species of the Iron Quadrangle, occurring in the ferruginous fields here in the park.

There are also ENDANGERED species, that is, species that ARE AT RISK OF DISAPPEARING from the face of the Earth. Species are categorized by scientists into different degrees of threat. This park harbors more than 20 endangered species! Among them we mention the Braúna, Melanoxylum brauna, which is a tree in a forest environment and the Puma (Puma concolor), which occurs in the park between the forest and cerrado environments.

We also have RARE species, that is, those that naturally occur in the environment in SMALL POPULATIONS. Here in the park there are three species of beetles that are considered rare and that live in forest environments.

All above makes this park an even more special place and extremely important in the conservation strategies of our native fauna and flora!