Refugio Animal Cascada is both a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and a Native Wildlife Exhibition Center, dedicated to caring for and protecting native animals in need.
They receive animals directly or indirectly affected by human activity: victims of illegal wildlife trafficking, road accidents, habitat loss, or attacks by domestic animals.
Each case is different, but the goal is always the same: to give them a second chance.
When an animal is in suitable condition, the aim is to rehabilitate and release it back into the wild, helping restore species that have been heavily impacted in central Chile.
When release is not possible, the refuge ensures they are cared for in appropriate long-term facilities, always prioritizing their wellbeing and quality of life.
In addition to hands-on animal care, the refuge also contributes through research, protocols, and public policy input, generating valuable information about lesser-known species and supporting conservation efforts both in Chile and internationally.
The educational side of the project is just as important. They welcome schools and local groups, helping raise awareness about wildlife care and environmental protection from an early age.
More Than 20 Years of History
The project began in 2003, when SAG (Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service) asked for support in receiving parrots rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking.
In 2005, Huilo arrived, a one-month-old puma born in captivity, with no possibility of returning to the wild.
That moment marked a turning point. From then on, the refuge began receiving more and more native wildlife, including pumas, foxes, birds of prey, and other species, gradually establishing itself as an important Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
A New Challenge: Guanacos in Central Chile
Today, the refuge is leading an ambitious conservation initiative: helping guanacos return to central Chile through the creation of breeding centers in different Nature Sanctuaries.
This is about more than simply bringing back a species, it is about restoring ecological processes that were present in these landscapes for thousands of years.
Visit Refugio Animal Cascada
If you would like to experience this project firsthand, we can include it as part of our Cajón del Maipo tour.
The visit requires an entrance fee per person, which includes a guided tour of approximately 2 hours in either Spanish or English.
All income generated from visits goes directly toward supporting the refuge’s work, helping fund the rehabilitation, care, and conservation of the wildlife they receive.
