Sauim-Castanheiras

Sauim-Castanheiras is a protected refuge covering about 95 hectares of forest in the Industrial District of Manaus that serves injured and orphaned wildlife. The site has a medical center where veterinarians examine animals and care for them until they recover enough to return to the wild.

The refuge was created in 1982 by presidential order to protect the local pied tamarins and Brazil nut trees from habitat loss. This decision marked an early effort to preserve these species within the growing city.

The refuge reflects how local communities care for injured wildlife through daily rehabilitation work that aims to return animals to the forest. This hands-on approach to animal welfare shapes how people in Manaus relate to the creatures around them.

Visiting requires advance permission from the city environmental office since it is a strictly protected area with limited access. It helps to contact local authorities beforehand to learn about visiting hours and any current guidelines.

The facility operates an autopsy building where veterinarians study animals that do not survive to understand what caused their death and improve protection strategies. This research helps guide decisions about how to better protect species in the Amazon region.