Jeannette Kawas National Park

Located in the same bay of Tela, this natural wonder was a refuge for pirates in the seventeenth century, it has two different areas. The peninsula is only accessible by sea from boats that depart from Tela.

The Parque Nacional Jeanette Kawas (formerly: National Park Punta Sal ) is a national park created on January 1, 1988 in honor of Jeanette Kawas and located west of the city of Tela and the Caribbean coast in the north of the department Atlantida. It covers an area of 781.62 km2 and at its highest point has an altitude of 900 meters.

Paradise beaches, coral reefs brimming with life and color, lush jungle and animals such as dolphins are its main attractions. The Laguna de los Micos is home to more than 350 species of birds, as well as monkeys, turtles and crocodiles.

Ecosystems

It has 4 different ecosystems, among them;

Tropical moist forest
Mangrove forest
Floodplain forest,
Herbaceous swamp,

In them you can find several rivers, lagoons, channels and reefs, lagoons, rocky cliffs, sandy beach, rocks, coral reefs, sea grasses, among others.

Fires

Since March 30, 2016, the park has been destroyed by a raging fire that has consumed 412 hectares of forest where different animals live. Thanks to the PROLANSATE foundation, the Air Force, the Honduran Army and 4 helicopters sent from the United States, the fire was stopped. On the night of April 2, it rained on the city of Tela, managing to completely extinguish the fire.

Flora and fauna

Flora

The park is a habitat for more than 499 species of trees and shrubs.

Fauna

The park is home to more than 35 species of mammals, 427 species of birds, 68 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians. 147 species of insects, among which there are 54 species of ants.

Several of these species are in danger of extinction are ensions, among them 6 species of turtles, 5 species of fish, 5 species of reptiles and 12 species of mammals including the manatee and the tiger. It is near the city of Tela, Atlántida.

Who was Jeanette Kawas?

Jeanette Kawas was one of the main environmental activists in Honduras, and director of PROLANSATE (Protection of Lancetilla, Punta Sal and Texiguat), who was assassinated on February 6, 1995 for her efforts to protect the park against palm plantations. in the region.

The following month, March 28, 1995, the park was included on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar). The park is now managed by the PROLANSATE foundation.