Eighteen kilometres from the city of Ayolas, on a 100-hectare property bordering the Atinguy stream, this wildlife refuge has been quietly doing important work for over four decades. Established in 1982 by the Yacyreta Binational Entity, Atinguy brings together mammals, birds and reptiles from the dam's area of influence and from across Paraguay, housed in cages, enclosures and open spaces designed around the specific needs of each species.

What makes Atinguy more than a conventional wildlife facility is its focus on species that genuinely need the attention. The refuge has achieved captive breeding of three threatened species: the Swamp Deer, the Maned Wolf, and the Bare-faced Curassow: a result that places it among the more significant conservation initiatives in the region.

Alongside its breeding programme, the refuge carries out ongoing research into behaviour, feeding and health management, with particular emphasis on animals at risk of extinction.

The educational dimension is equally active. The refuge runs programmes for children, young people and adults, connecting visitors directly with the animals and the conservation work happening around them.

For national and international visitors passing through the Ayolas area, Atinguy offers something that goes beyond a standard wildlife stop, a working refuge where the animals on view are also part of a broader effort to ensure they have a future outside its fences.