At least 17 houses for Aluxes (mythical creatures in Mayan folklore) are planned to be placed along the two-kilometer trail in Parque Kabah to promote awareness of this protected natural area and its ecosystem services to the public.
Pablo Manuel Rubio Taboada, the director of Protected Natural Areas in Benito Juárez, mentioned that an event will be held in Parque Kabah in early October, where 18 alux houses will be presented, with all but one joining the five already placed along the trail.
This initiative aims to increase the number of visitors and showcase the natural richness of the park, including its approximately 120 coatis, an estimated 40 bird species, spider monkeys, opossums, skunks, various types of snakes, and more.
“It’s on October 4th at 11 in the morning here in the park… The thing is, they say that you have to change the houses for the aluxes every seven or eight years, so it’s their turn to change them to help us watch over and protect the park,” he said.
The houses presented during the event should have a small explanation of their design and be made of recyclable materials or materials that can withstand the weather.
On the day of the event, the winning house will be placed in the Casa Maya museum, and a Mayan priest will conduct a ceremony for the alux houses presented, all as part of the anniversary celebration of Parque Kabah on November 10th.
The trail in Parque Kabah explains that aluxes are small, mischievous beings by nature. They protect the forests, cornfields, and animals, and offerings of sweets, pozol (a traditional Mayan drink), cocoa, or maize are made to them as tribute.
Additionally, according to Parque Kabah’s information, the park receives an average of 500 visitors daily and is home to over 170 species of flora and fauna.
TYT Newsroom