Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

From the fortress of Sacsayhuaman we go to the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary.  This family-run shelter strives to protect at-risk species and cares for animals that have been mistreated.

Within minutes of arriving we get to meet the very impressive endangered Andean Condor. Some farmers believe  that the condors prey on their livestock. In fact, condors eat carrion (although it is true they may go after weak or failing animals).  Artisans who like to use condor feathers in their works also pose a threat to these majestic birds.  Cochahuasi to the rescue.  The sanctuary protects and nurtures the birds, promotes reproduction, and then releases the condors into the wild.

Andean condor in flight

A few of the condors demonstrate their size, coming from a high perch to the ground where we are. The wing span can range from nine to ten and a half feet.  (Please note a guide told us the birds that respond on cue are rescued and accustomed to humans; they are unlikely to go back to the wild, but their offspring will.)

          

Seeing one next to a human gives you an idea of the bird's size.

           

As we walk the path from the condor flight demonstration, we see alpacas enjoying their morning graze. My notes say I also saw llamas, but I’m not so sure…

Alpaca

For one thing, alpaca fiber is a major source of yarn for the weavers of Peru.

                   

Alpacas have short straight ears and smaller face than llamas; they don’t weigh much over 200 pounds. Llamas’ ears are long, pointed, and slightly curved, and the adult llamas weigh as much as four hundred pounds.

I’m pretty sure these are alpacas.  None of them look like they approach the size of a grown 400-pound llama, and all of them have (very cute) faces that fit the alpaca description.

More about Peruvian weavers in the next post. 

Learn more about the sanctuary at  http://www.santuariocochahuasi.com/about-us.html

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The Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (continued)

This is the fortress that Inca leader Pachacutec began before his death n 1471, that his son, Tupac Inca Yupanqui completed.  We see walls over fifty feet high, made of stones that weigh from 130 to 200 tons.  I needed to remind myself that one hundred thirty tons is 260,000 pounds.  We still don't know how the Inca moved these massive stones.

Note the precise cut of these huge stones fitted closely together with no mortar to hold them.

Only one person at a time could pass through this doorway. 

The construction shows strategic planning. The huge stone walls are long. There is never more than one entry point or 'doorway' in any area of the fortress. And the doorways are always small--only one person could pass through at a time.  No groups of intruders or attackers could easily penetrate any part of Sacsayhuaman. 

The walls also have a slight inward tilt.  It's possible that this angle, combined with the meticulous cut of the stones, helped Sacsayhuaman survive earthquakes have rocked this area.

Not long after the Spanish conquest of the Inca, Manco, the puppet Inca ruler that Pizarro appointed, began his rebellion here. Ultimately Manco lost Sacsayhuaman to the Spanish and retreated to Ollantaytambo.  

Once the Spanish took over the fortress, they used it to protect Cusco and as a source for stone. The Spanish pillaged for supplies to use in new construction in Cusco.  What remains of Sacsayhuaman now is probably less than half of its original size.