"Pepe lucho" the pacarana

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today I want to tell you about a curious little animal I met in the Selva Central in Tingo Maria: a pacarana. It's one of the biggest rodents in the world that is famous and loved in the jungle area. This pacarana is called Pepe Lucho and I wanted to introduce you to him:

As you can see, he is a very handsome rodent. Even though I don’t like rodents, you have to meet him when you go to the Selva Central because he is very funny and he has become a tourist attraction.

This little animal is found in the coffee area of Chanchamayo. He is so loved by the locals that once there was basically a strike in the area when it was decided that he would be moved to Lima because the authorities wanted to take him to Huanchipa Zoo.

If you to the Selva Central, you have to meet Pepe Lucho who is a peaceful little animal. Because he is domesticated, you can take a photo with him for just one sol. His owner, or rather his friend, has made the area Pepe Lucho lives in a tourist attraction in this green area of Peru.

Pepe Lucho already has a family and these days you can meet other members of his specie too. Inside Pepe Lucho’s house, they also sell ornaments dedicated to him, as well as trinkets made the area's native communities.

Pepe Lucho’s species are known as "macheteros" in Spanish because they have big teeth that look like machetes. Don’t worry though, they won’t bite you because they’re herbivores.

Pepe Lucho has also been in lots of films and TV commercials in Peru.

Here is a photo I took of him on his "gerente" (manager) throne. Pepe Lucho fell asleep there and you can take a photo with him on his side.

To meet Pepe Lucho, you just need to go on a tour in La Merced or Chanchamayo. The guides almost always include Pepe Lucho in their tours. Also, you’ll be able to see a beautiful landscape in front of his house.

Here is a view of the landscape to make you feel like going - the Peruvian Selva Verde:

I hope you’re inspired to meet Pepe Lucho and see the green Selva Central. And as a Peruvian slogan says ¡la selva pone! (the jungle puts). See you soon :)

Photo gallery