Walk Through the Cloud Forest of La Tigra National Park
Honduras | admin | July 12, 2010Formerly Central America used to have numbers of cloud forest, but in recent years, gradually, the numbers of cloud forests are declining. Honduras, situated in Central America, it has rich and preserved many cloud forests. In 1925, the forest was create as a reserve and later in 1980 it was announced as a national park. It was first national park in Honduras. La Tigra National Park is situated outside the Tegucigalpa city, about 11 kilometers at distance. The park stretches more than 238 square kilometers and is home of many wild animals as well as many species of birds.
The drive is very scenic to reach the park; it goes through the coffee plantation and pine forest. The fastest and closest way to reach La Tigra national park from Tegucigalpa is by way of El Castillo. As you enter Castillo, you will find little cottages called La Estancia where visitors can stay for the night and the pine forest surrounding the cottages are wonderful for bird watching.
The Reales Minas Route goes through Valle de Angeles, Santa Lucia, and San Juancito which is another way to access the park. The road through San Juancito is dusty, so if you go in rainy season make sure you hire 4 x 4 vehicle to climb the mountain. The way goes to the old Rosario Mining Company head office and here you will find visitor center of the park.
Formerly the building was a hospital for the mining company which now has been rehabilitated into basic resting accommodation for visitors, with shower and toilet facility. In order to stay for the night at the Park, beforehand planning should be made with Amitigra.
From 1500 meters to 2500 meters beyond sea level, mountainous wide leaf trees are found depending on the local geography. The clouds are the creation of the high elevation as well as result of cooler temperature of the mountains; this creates a natural barrier for the humid and hot Caribbean air that is compel to go up above the mountains. The hot and humid air is later gets cool down and condenses above the mountain peak. Thus, results in the formation of clouds as well as continuous drizzling and mist.
The flora has got adjusted to these geographic and climatic conditions, for example epiphytes. Epiphytes are capable to acquire water, plus at times even nutrients from the atmosphere. Bromeliads (a distinctive kin of the neotropics) as well as Orchids (the major plant family on the earth) are perfect exemplary for epiphytes. They are not parasitic plants as many misunderstood them as parasite plants. Epiphytes do not take any nutrients as well as water from their host plants as parasites do; they just use them as a place to sit. Mosses and lichens occupy the entire space in forest by its branches and trunks.
For the capital city Tegucigalpa, La Tigra is of great significance as it provides about 40 % of its drinking water to the city. Cloud forests are main source of water reservoirs. As flora accumulates the water from the air, when the water gets saturated, it oozes from the leaf tips or trunks on the land. The soil is squishy and is protected from soil attrition by the flora. The water gets assembled in rocky and lower parts of the land. This water reservoir gives regular water supply to the dry areas as well as other parts of Tegucigalpa city.
In La Tigra, cypress is the most notable species of plant that juts for its distinctive wide leaves; commonly found in South America and spreads towards its northern range boundary to Honduras. Also aguacatillo’s presence is obvious, chief food source for Quetzals, liquidambar, mountain oak, gorilla, pine tree, shrubs for instance Rodolentia nebulosa, and ferns for example Alsophila salvinii and Pteridium aquilinum. The latter being an in danger of extinction species.
Cloud forests have low bio-diversity, but it is home to many common species, thus cloud forests reserves play a key role in the survival of many species. Reptile’s population is very less in La Tigra. There are 3 amphibians as well as 13 different types of reptile, among which 2 are endangered, and 2 are venomous (Bothrops godmani and Micrurus nigrocinctus). Exceptional species in this group is the ostentatious green lizard, Sceloporus malachitichus, considered by locals to be venomous, and next is the Typhlops costaricensis, uncommon earthworm snake.
The mammals are the second biggest group in the forest; there are 31 types, among which 6 are in danger of extinction, 2 in jeopardy, and other 2 are believed to be uncommon. The exceptional out of the mammals are the felines, which are characterized by the Margay Cat, Jaguar and the Ocelot. Armadillos, Coatis, Agoutis, Bairds Tapir, and Peccaries are some of the mammals that can be seen in La Tigra.
The forest has vast variety of bird species. It has around 34 families among which 171 are different species, among them 42 types of birds are only found in the cloud forest, furthermore 27 are migratory birds. Few of them are in danger of extinction or in jeopardy, like trogon family and great curassow, including the Resplendent Quetzal, are the famous and mystic bird of the Aztecs and Mayas.
To see Quetzal the best time is to come between March and May, during reproductive season. Usually they are hidden in the cloud forest’s thick vegetation, however during reproductive season; the forest becomes alive by the male voice, calling out loudly to the female to mate.
Trail system is good in La Tigra. There are 6 tracks; four can be easily entered from the Jutiapa Visitors Center and two by the El Rosario Visitors Centre. These trails have picnic areas, rest areas, and sentinel spots. Trails differ in stretch from 1 hour to 4 or 5 hour treks. Additionally to six trails there is an entrée road that connects the visitor’s center at El Rosario and Jutiapa. Hiking takes good three hours from here.
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La Tigra National Park consists of many rare species..This park has a huge responsibility to protect the endangered species which it is doing by preserving the lush cloud forest..It is one of the most scintillating places in Honduras!!