Poço das Antas Biological Reserve


Poço das Antas Biological Reserve is a biological reserve located in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
The reserve, which covers in the Atlantic Forest biome, was created on 11 March 1974. It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
The reserve is in the municipality of Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro. The terrain is relatively flat, with elevations from. Average annual rainfall is.
Temperatures range from with an average of. The São João River defines the boundary of the reserve, which is laced with small springs, channels and streams.

Environment

The vegetation includes dense lowland rainforest, some flooded and some not. Some areas have suffered deforestation. Over 365 plant species have been recorded, of which 12 are on the IUCN list of endangered species.
The reserve is home to 77 known species of mammals. Currently, the mammal population is threatened due to many reasons such as wildfires and poaching.
The reserve is famous for its golden lion tamarins, which represent most part of the few remaining wild golden lion tamarins in the world. There is estimated to be 1000 tamarins in the reserve and surrounding areas. Currently the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project is attempting to save the golden lion tamarins from extinction.
Migratory bird species include swallow-tailed kite, plumbeous kite, blue ground dove, dark-billed cuckoo, white-collared swift, Sick's swift, black jacobin, black-throated mango, white-rumped monjita, yellow-browed tyrant, rusty-margined flycatcher, streaked flycatcher, piratic flycatcher, fork-tailed flycatcher, white-winged becard, red-eyed vireo, lined seedeater and sooty grassquit.

Conservation

The Biological Reserve is a "strict nature reserve" under IUCN protected area category Ia. The purpose is to fully preserve the biota and other natural attributes without direct human interference.
As well as protecting the coastal forest ecosystem and remaining native fauna and preserving endangered indigenous species, the reserve has the function of creating laboratories to create and restock examples of flora and fauna.
Protected species include the white-necked hawk, maned sloth, maned wolf, purple-winged ground dove, golden lion tamarin, the catfish Microcambeva barbata, the butterflies Mimoides lysithous and Parides ascanius, and Salvadori's antwren.