Mother and Chick, Photo: Walter Mancilla

General Information:

This is a truly unique experience as the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest of the fifty species of eagles. It can grow to be as large as 36 to 40 inches in length (this mainly is seen in the females of the species). It can reach a weight of up to 20 pounds. The Harpy in flight can reach speeds above 50 mph.

The Harpy is relatively half the length of an average-sized human and it is this size that makes them formidable hunters. As in many birds of prey, females are larger than males. Their diet is composed mainly of small tree-living mammals like opossums, sloths and monkeys.  Madre de Dios biologists have reported baby peccaries as well.

The backside of the Harpy Eagle is covered with slate black feathers, and the underside is covered with white. There is a black band across the chest up to the neck. The head is pale gray, and is crowned with a double crest. This coloration gives it the menacing look to match its reputation.

Harpy Eagles are endangered species whose main threat is the loss of habitat. The nearby Inter -Oceanic road, now in construction between Brazil and Peru is a current threat.  Thus your visit may help us to show the locals and the government that conservation and natural history tourism pays.

Forest Destrution -Puerto Maldonado

Date: February 20, 2009

Report: Walter Mancilla

Chick of 6 month, Photo: Walter Mancilla

The Biology, Antonio Fernandini, was worry because in only 2 years most of the big trees disappear, by the logging companies and the local people, this big trees are very important for the Harpy Eagle and the larges hawk. Because they build their nest in this type of trees.

Trees like Dicterix and Kapok, etc.

Jaguar with a Baby and Harpy Eagle

Date: Novemver 26 to Dicember 06, 2008

Report: Walter Mancilla and Tomoko Suzuki

Photo: Tomoko Suzuki & Walter Mancilla

In this trip we were very lucky to see big predators like Jaguar and harpy Eagle, nest to Paniagua in the Manu River we sow a female large jaguar with is baby jaguar, the female had a wound in its throat, and she was lying on the cedar tree.

Traveling from Yomibato Community to Tayakome Community, by conoe in the Quebrada fierro river. We sow a mail Harpy Eagle, carring its prey of Red Howler Monkey near to as, and landed in a big tree and start eating.

Date: April 12 to april 20, 2006

Nido en un arbol de Chihuahuaco, Foto: Walter Mancilla

I was in manu area from April 03 to April 20 of 2006, working with the metal tower close to the Harpy Eagle nest, and we build a 30 meters hight tower and the distance from the tower to the nest is 25 meters oway the same nest level, the Eagles have one Chick in the nest, I sow the parent bringing a Duski Titi monkey to feed the Chick and they where active, the adults Eagles where easy to see close to the nest specialy the mother I got same pictures and you can see it.

The nest is in the Dicterix Tree, locally call Chihuhuaco this tree is one of the stronger tree in the Amazon area.