The REGUA wetland is one of our resounding conservation success stories. This area was once a native swampy forest comprising water-loving Tabebuia cassinoides trees and large tree ferns, but during the 1970s the swamp was drained and the trees cleared to make way for cattle pasture and agricultural fields. In 2005 REGUA began to create a new wetland on the site, converting the fields to a mosaic of lakes, channels, reedbeds, wet grass, Tabebuia cassinoides stands and lowland forest. Since then the area has seen an enormous increase in biodiversity. This restored area marks the gateway to the higher parts of the reserve and includes a small wetland that has become an important refuge for tapirs, thanks to its natural connection with the surrounding uplands. The Yellow Trail is a key area for tapirs, largely due to the presence of the acclimatisation enclosure, which receives tapirs brought from other parts of the country as part of the reserve’s reintroduction programme, making this one of the most reliable places to observe these impressive mammals. From the Yellow Trail, visitors can also access the Brown and Purple trails, as well as Amanda’s Hide — a well-camouflaged hide located at the water’s edge, offering excellent close-range views of waterbirds. Over 220 bird species have been recorded at the wetland, including the scarce Masked Duck, the Near-threatened Black-legged Dacnis, Boat-billed Heron, Pinnated Bittern, Capped Heron, and several species of rails. The wetland is also an excellent place to watch for soaring raptors during the late morning, with Rufous-thighed Kite, Crane Hawk, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Laughing Falcon and Aplomado Falcon all frequently picked out amongst the kettling Lesser Yellow-headed, Turkey and Black Vultures. Many local rarities have been recorded at the wetland, such as Sungrebe, South American Tern, Black Skimmer, Stygian Owl, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Black-backed Water-Tyrant, along with two ‘firsts’ for Rio de Janeiro state – Greenish Elaenia and Azure Gallinule. Reptiles such as the endemic Broad-snouted Caiman have naturally moved back into the area, along with mammals such as Capybara, Agouti paca, Southern River Otter, Crab-eating fox and top predators including Puma concolor.