Pilpintuwasi butterfly can and wildlife rescue center, Butterfly sanctuary and wildlife rescue center in Padre Cocha near Iquitos, Peru.

Pilpintuwasi is a butterfly farm and wildlife rescue center in Padrecocha, on the banks of the Nanay River about 20 minutes north of Iquitos. It is Peru's only butterfly breeding center, keeping 42 Amazonian species, among them the blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) and the owl butterfly (Caligo eurilochus). Visitors follow the full metamorphosis from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult; each species feeds on one plant and lives two to four weeks. The center also shelters mammals, including red huapo monkeys and a jaguar named Pedro Bello.

The center was established in 1995 as a butterfly research site and gradually transformed into a wildlife rescue operation. As injured and abandoned animals were brought by local residents, the facility expanded its mission to provide rehabilitation and care for forest species.

The name comes from the Quechua language, combining "Pilpintu" (butterfly) and "wasi" (home), reflecting the region's indigenous roots. Local guides share stories about the relationship between the forest communities and the wildlife, showing how the center connects people to their natural surroundings.

Visitors reach the center by boat from Bellavista Nanay port in Iquitos, with the journey taking roughly 20 minutes. Guided tours are offered daily except Mondays, allowing visitors to explore the grounds with knowledgeable staff who explain the animals and conservation work.

Among the mammals kept at Pilpintuwasi is a jaguar named Pedro Bello, along with red huapo monkeys. The center also holds 42 Amazonian butterfly species, among them the blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) and the owl butterfly (Caligo eurilochus). Each butterfly species feeds on one specific plant and lives only two to four weeks.