WILDLIFE OF BOLIVIA 

Unknown to most Bolivia actually has some of the most pristine Eco Systems and Forested areas in the world and living in these vast areas are some of the most incredible and rare wildlife species on the planet.

Here is a list of some of the more iconic Bolivian Wildlife Species which can be seen while visiting this amazing country and the Best Bolivian National Parks where you can find them.

JAGUAR - PANTHERA ONCA

 

The largest cat in the Western Hemisphere this bulkish Cat is the king of the South and Central American Jungle, its beautifully fur coat nearly pushed it to extinction during the 60,70s and 80s however thanks to protection measures its slowly recovering. This incredible big cat can be seen in many of Bolivias National Parks including Madidi National Park ,Otuquis National Park and especially Kaa Iya National Park.

ANACONDA

 

The worlds 2nd largest snake by length and the worlds heaviest snake is still found frequently in the Bolivian Wetlands and Amazon regions, sadly its usually killed on sight by villagers and fisherman due to its undeserved reputation for being a potential man eater. Best places to observe this incredible reptile in Bolivia include the Otuquis National Park , Bolivian Pantanal , Beni Wetlands and the Pampas de Yucuma region.

THREE TOED SLOTH

The iconic 3 toed Sloth is found frequently in Santa Cruz, and is one of the most weird and different animals you will encounter whilst travelling through South America. Its one of the worlds slowest moving mammals and literally spends most of its day sleeping in tree branches usually close to rivers. Santa Cruz Bolivia is one of the best places to see Sloths in the wild and its often called the unoffical Sloth capital of the world.

LOWLAND TAPIR 

The lowland Tapir is the largest land mammal in Bolivia and can grow up to 250kgs, this gentle giant is a very important seed dispercer and is vital to the health of forests. It is threatened with extinction due to over hunting for its meat and also for land clearing. The lowland Tapir communicates via whistles and also has one of the slowest gestation rates of any mammal( 14 months) The best place to observe Tapirs in the wild is Madidi National Park and Kaa Iya National Park.

GIANT OTTER

This endangered and highly vocal Giant Otters is one of the most amazing sights you can experience while exploring the forests of Bolivia. These otters grow to over 2 metres in length and live in highly social family groups. They can be seen only in certain areas of Bolivia which the best locations being Otuquis National Park , Madidi National Park , Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and the Beni Wetlands.

PUMA OR MOUNTAIN LION  

The 2nd largest cat of the Americas, the Puma or Mountain Lion is one of the world most adaptable animals on the planet, it survives in a huge variety of eco systems including the Amazon Rainforest, Yunga Cloud Forests, Andean Mountains, Pampas and Pantanal Wetlands and Chaco Forests of Kaa Iya National Park. The two best areas to observe the Puma in the wild are Torres Del Paine in Chile and Kaa Iya National Park in Bolivia

RED FRONTED MACAW 

This endemic and critically endangered Macaw species is only found in just a few locations in Bolivia, its threatened by extinction for the bird trade and from farmers who kill them for eating their crops. Bolivia is also home to another endemic Macaw called the Blue Throated Macaw as well which numbers are thought to be less than 150 in the wild.These endangered Macaws can be seen in just a few locations on the planet , including Toro Toro National Park , Red Fronted Macaw Lodge and a new location close to Samaipata Bolivia.

These are just a few of the incredible animals of Bolivia, if you are interested in visiting Bolivia to see its wildlife in their natural  settings then contact us today. Bolivia is often a better location to see animals in the wild as its less touristic and the ecosystems are still in much better shape than other South American Countries.

 *All photos are property of Nicks Adventures Bolivia and were taken during our Wildlife Tours in Bolivia

For more information please visit our webage of  www.nicksadventuresbolivia.com