**Abstract**

With rapid ecological assessments, we diagnose the conservation status of large mammals in the localities Rio Encanto, San Jacinto Las Palmas, Sacha Llanganates, Cabeceras del Anzu, Boayaku, and Flor de Bosque, located within the Llanganates Sangay Ecological Corridor (CELS) and the upper subbasin of the Anzu River, in the eastern foothills of the tropical Andes, sub-Andean and tropical ecosystems in one of the most biologically diverse regions of Ecuador. Camera traps, 5 km linear transect walks, and interviews with local inhabitants recorded 35 species of macro mammals, in 8 Orders and 21 Families, including the Andean bear (*Tremarctos ornatus*), Andean tapir (*Tapirus pinchaque*), Amazonian tapir (*Tapirus terrestris*), puma (*Puma concolor*), and chorongo monkey (*Lagothrix lagotricha*), mammals considered as flagship species, highly endangered. The continuity of natural habitat along the subbasins of the Encanto, Topo, Zuñag, Tigre, and Anzu rivers, as well as the mountain ranges toward the highlands, provide favorable conditions for the flow of individuals, from adjacent areas of the Llanganates and Sangay National Parks to partially protected forest areas, such as the private reserves of Fundation Ecominga, Sumak Kawsay in Situ, community reserves of Boayaku and Flor de Bosque. The protection of the area is a priority.

**Keywords:** rapid ecological assessment, Ecuadorian flagship species, tropical Andes, threatened species, sub-Andean ecosystems

### **1. Introduction**

Western Amazonia is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and the most biologically rich part of the entire Amazon basin [1]. The Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor (CELS) is located between the provinces of Tungurahua, Pastaza, and Morona Santiago, in the central Andean and eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes; it covers about 679 km2 ; it is more than 40 km long and between 6 and 20 km wide, between the Llanganates and Sangay National Parks. While the upper subbasin of the Anzu River connects part of the declared corridor and the buffer zone of the

Llanganates National Park, with more tropical areas in the upper Amazon of Pastaza and Napo provinces.

The CELS is one of the areas considered a priority for conservation efforts, due to its strategic location, variety of habitats and ecosystems, and the functions they play in maintaining the planetary climate balance. Likewise, the Anzu River subbasin is located in the conservation hotspot, so the diagnosis of its conservation status is important due to its location in the westernmost portion of the eastern foothills of the central Ecuadorian Andes.

The importance of ecosystems such as the cloud forest and sub-Andean Forest for the regulation of the water cycle is well known, as well as for the alpha diversity and endemism of fauna and flora that these ecosystems contain. On the other hand, both areas are connected with protective forests such as the Abitahua Protected Forest, and are also crossed by cities, population centers, and agricultural activities that exert pressure on this biodiverse area [2].

The corridor was declared a gift of the earth [3] due to the richness of its ecosystems, flora, and fauna. However, the use of this space has not been well analyzed, especially in the area of influence of the Abitahua Protected Forest and the upper subbasin of the Anzu River. There is insufficient information on the fulfillment of its function as a biological corridor. The areas through which the genetic flow of large mammals exists and which may be under pressure from agricultural activities, deforestation, population centers, road traffic, natural barriers, and social-cultural aspects of the population, which influence the ecosystems and species, are unknown.

In this context, the present study sought to diagnose the conservation status in areas of the CELS and the upper subbasin of the Anzu River, through field sampling with camera traps in selected sites in the region between the towns of Rio Negro, in Tungurahua province, and Boayaku, in Pastaza province.

The main results corresponding to a baseline for biological monitoring during 6 months of work focused on the Masto fauna of the upper basin of the Anzu River and other localities belonging to the CELS are presented. The results obtained represent an approach to the full knowledge of the conservation status of this important ecological zone, being nevertheless an important contribution to the continuity of research and conservation efforts in the short and medium term, with a view to safeguarding the great biodiversity of the environment and ecosystems that make up this biodiverse region.
