Eco Lodge Itororó

11/04/2026

Itororó Eco Lodge & Reserve Brazil
The Eco Lodge Itororó´s dedicated page to our Atlantic Rain Forest Environmental Project is linked to our Instagram and is constantly fed with the latest news. If you wish to follow the development of our Environmental Project and observe what nature is presenting us with along the way, please follow us at Itororó Eco Lodge & Reserve Brazil at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587502648923. It will be an honor to have you with us!

30/12/2025

The achiote tree (Bixa orellana) is a flowering shrub native to South America that provides numerous benefits to both humans and nature. Its seeds are widely used in the food and beauty industries to extract natural dyes, as well as in the health industry for its pharmaceutical properties. Indigenou...

03/12/2025

The achiote tree (Bixa orellana) is a flowering shrub native to South America that provides numerous benefits to both humans and nature. Its seeds are widely used in the food and beauty industries to extract natural dyes, as well as in the health industry for its pharmaceutical properties. Indigenous people traditionally use these seeds to paint their skin with its vibrant red color. However, the true value of the achiote tree lies in its crucial role in supporting bee populations. By providing essential nectar and pollen, the achiote tree attracts a diverse range of native bees, which are vital for its pollination. As a melliferous species, the achiote tree serves as a consistent source of food for insects throughout the year. Its high pollen production makes it a preferred plant for bees, who primarily pollinate it through buzz pollination, ensuring its successful reproduction. Additionally, the achiote tree is highly beneficial for ecological restoration projects as it promotes interactions between plants and pollinators, contributing to the creation of more resilient and stable environments.

03/11/2025

Lesser grisons (Galictis cuja)

Captured for the first time this year by one of our trap cameras at the Eco Lodge Itororó, Lesser grisons (Galictis cuja) are a native South American species of mustelid found at elevations ranging from sea level to 4,200 meters. Adults can weigh between 1.2 and 2.4 kg. Lesser grisons feed on small to medium rodents, as well as rabbits, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, and their eggs, in addition to fruits. In turn, they are prey to larger animals such as the Maned Wolf, ocelots, jaguarundis, and other smaller cats. Lesser grisons are monogamous and hunt together when raising their litter of two to five young. They can either live solitary lives or in small family groups and travel together in a single file. Lesser grisons are primarily active during the day, and at night, will sleep in hollow trees, natural crevices, or excavated burrows, which can be as deep as four meters and have entrances hidden by leaves. Despite being classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their wide distribution, Lesser grisons are still rare in their range and can be difficult to spot.

03/11/2025

Lesser grisons (Galictis cuja)

Captured for the first time this year by one of our trap cameras at the Eco Lodge Itororó, Lesser grisons (Galictis cuja) are a native South American species of mustelid found at elevations ranging from sea level to 4,200 meters. Adults can weigh between 1.2 and 2.4 kg. Lesser grisons feed on small to medium rodents, as well as rabbits, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, and their eggs, in addition to fruits. In turn, they are prey to larger animals such as the Maned Wolf, ocelots, jaguarundis, and other smaller cats. Lesser grisons are monogamous and hunt together when raising their litter of two to five young. They can either live solitary lives or in small family groups and travel together in a single file. Lesser grisons are primarily active during the day, and at night, will sleep in hollow trees, natural crevices, or excavated burrows, which can be as deep as four meters and have entrances hidden by leaves. Despite being classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their wide distribution, Lesser grisons are still rare in their range and can be difficult to spot.

03/10/2025

Eugenia uniflora, also known as Brazilian cherry, is a flowering plant in the Myrtaceae family. Native to the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest, it can be found in semideciduous forests along the east coast in subtropical climates. It is adaptable to various soil types and is frequently used in Brazil´s urban areas as well as in the restoration of degraded areas. The tree's fruits are a food source for many birds and wild animals. Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) is primarily pollinated by bees, potentially contributing to the conservation of these bees in forest fragments. Birds seen at Itororó that feed on the Eugenia uniflora include the Guan (Penelope obscura), Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), Ruffus-bellied Trush (Turdus rufiventris), Ruby-crowned tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus), Green-winged saltator (Saltator similis), Surucua trogon (Trogon surrucura), Saffron toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni), Bare-throated bellbird (Procnias nudicollis), Plain-parakeet (Brotogeris tirica), Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), Yellow-legged trush (Turdus flavipes), Maroon-bellied parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis) among many others.

If you are interested in experiencing the wildlife of the Atlantic Rain Forest, contact us at [email protected].

03/09/2025

Iheringi´s Three-Striped Opossum

The Iheringi's three-striped opossum (Monodelphis iheringi) is the smallest species in the Monodelphis genus, measuring less than 10 cm in length and weighing approximately twenty-four grams, found only in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil. These opossums are considered rare and are identified by three black stripes on their backs. Unlike other marsupials, they do not have a pouch to carry their young and instead carry them on their backs. Endemic to the Atlantic Rain Forest, Iheringi´s three-striped opossums live underground and only leave their living environment to hunt, exhibiting strict terrestrial habits. Omnivorous, they primarily feed on insects, fruits, and a few arthropods. Iheringi's three-striped opossums are typically found in well-preserved areas. Currently, the conservation status of Monodelphis iheringi is Data Deficient (DD) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

01/09/2025

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The 17 to 18 cm long white-bearded antshrike (Biatas nigropectus) is a bamboo specialist endemic to Argentina and as well to Brazil, where it is found only in vast stands of Merostachys bamboo in certain ranges. This species chiefly inhabits bamboo colonies in evergreen forests and mature secondary....

09/08/2025

White-bearded Antshrike

The 17 to 18 cm long white-bearded antshrike (Biatas nigropectus) is a bamboo specialist endemic to Argentina and as well to Brazil, where it is found only in vast stands of Merostachys bamboo in certain ranges. This species chiefly inhabits bamboo colonies in evergreen forests and mature secondary forests, feeding primarily in and next to bamboo, and typically between about one and 10 m above ground. It can be found at altitudes between 500 and 1,200 m. The IUCN originally assessed the white-bearded antshrike as Threatened in 1988, however, it has been listed as Vulnerable since 1994. It has a restricted and fractured range; its estimated population of 2500 to 10,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. The species is considered rare and has never been common. While white-bearded antshrikes can be found in several protected areas, the die-off characteristic of bamboo, which is this species´ main habitat, makes conservation efforts challenging.
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If you are interested in birds of the Atlantic Rainforest, contact us at [email protected]
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📷Bird Photo by Andy Foster

06/07/2025

Restoration Project – Removal of Non-Endemic Pine Trees

In 2020, we removed a small section of non-endemic pines located just behind the lodge. This was during the pandemic when the lodge was closed, making it an appropriate time to undergo some noise and clear the area for a short period of time. Once again, the Atlantic Rain Forest proved its resilience, and within a few years, the area transformed into a beautiful, young, lush green forest. Pioneer trees such as the Cecropia have taken root and their fruits will soon feed a variety of birds, which are already perching there, as well as benefit the diverse wildlife that thrives on the endemic foliage. The natural vegetation has also flourished, providing much-needed protection and coverage for the previously dry soil. The lodge is now surrounded by a proper, fresh, green Atlantic Rain Forest frame.

1. Dec 2020
2. Nov 2021
3. Mar 2022
4. Jul 2022
5. Jul 2022
6. Jul 2023
7. Dec 2024
8. Apr 2025
9. Apr 2025

For more information about Eco Lodge Itororó, contact us: [email protected] and visit our website: www.ecolodge-itororo.com