At 71, this shepherd walks Andean slopes every day to herd 150 sheep at 13,000 feet, with only his dogs and a flute

71-year-old Don Juanito spends his days caring for roughly 150 sheep at about 4,000 meters above sea level in Ecuador's Andean páramo. He lives with family in the Burrucachí region, in a home built with mud walls, eucalyptus wood and a thatched roof. His daily work includes walking the mountain slopes to move the animals toward their grazing and corralling areas. CNN Brasil reported that the journeys can take about 40 minutes and that Juanito is accompanied by dogs and plays a flute while tending the flock.Their house uses materials that are available in the surrounding area, and Juanito sleeps on a mattress made from straw rather than a conventional bed. Water is collected from a natural spring among the rocks, while meals are prepared on a wood-burning stove. The family grows foods including potatoes and toasted fava beans and also raises small animals such as guinea pigs. CNN Brasil reported that Juanito also makes wool clothing, including caps made from alpaca fiber.Forty minutes across the mountain slopesThe sheep are divided into groups, and moving them across the páramo is part of Juanito's regular work. The terrain requires him to walk along the slopes to bring the animals toward the corral, with dogs helping keep the flock together, while the flute accompanies the journey. A separate account by UOL also traced the story to footage from the YouTube channel Ecuador y sus Paisajes, and described Juanito as living with his family in the isolated mountain region and maintaining a largely self-sufficient routine. The report said that he was born in the area, as were his parents, and that he had chosen to remain there rather than move to a city.The video source is important because much of the recent attention around Juanito comes from footage of his daily life rather than from a long-standing profile in international media. The scenes show the setting in which the reported routine takes place: steep Andean terrain, livestock, the family's rural home and the work that is involved in maintaining the household.A house built around what the mountain providesThe family's home is made from mud, eucalyptus and straw, and inside, the same practical approach continues. Straw is used for bedding, firewood is used for cooking and water comes from a natural source in the surrounding landscape. Potatoes and fava beans form part of the family's diet, while small livestock provide another source of food. The combination means that daily life involves farming, animal care, food preparation and clothing production rather than a single occupation.The cold and changing conditions of the high páramo require protective clothing, and CNN Brasil reported that the family uses wool garments, ponchos and hats to deal with the temperatures and frequent frost at altitude.Why does Juanito remain in the páramo?UOL reported that Juanito was born in the mountain region and that his parents were also born there. He described remaining in the highlands as a choice connected to the quiet of the area and his family's way of life. The reported routine is therefore built around a combination of family, livestock and the resources available in the surrounding mountains. At 71, Juanito continues to walk the slopes to manage a flock of around 150 sheep, with the help of dogs to control the animals and a flute during the journeys. The recent reports document a specific rural routine in Burrucachí, where Juanito has continued to work with animals and live with his family at roughly 4,000 meters above sea level.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.