Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WILDLIFE
Animals
Bolivia is one of the best places on the continent to observe wildlife, and even seasoned
wildlife watchers will be impressed by the diversity on show.
The distribution of wildlife is dictated by the country's geography and varies consider-
ably from region to region. The Altiplano is home to vicuñas, flamingos and condors; the
Chaco to secretive jaguars, pumas and peccaries; the Pantanal provides refuge for giant ot-
ters, marsh deer and waterbirds; and the Amazon Basin contains the richest density of spe-
cies on earth, featuring an incredible variety of reptiles, parrots, monkeys, hummingbirds,
butterflies, fish and bugs (by the zillion!).
Of course, the animals that steal the show are
the regional giants: the majestic jaguar, the con-
tinent's top predator; the elephant-nosed tapir
(anta)
and the giant anteater. The ostrich-like
rhea or
ñandú
, the continent's biggest bird, is
here too and it can be surprisingly common in
some areas. You may even be lucky enough to
spot the breathtaking Andean condor - revered by the Inca - soaring on mountain thermals.
River travelers are almost certain to see capybaras (like giant aquatic guineapigs) and
caimans (alligators). It's not unusual to see anacondas in the rivers of the department of
Beni, and a spot of piranha fishing is virtually an obligation for anybody spending time in
the Amazon.
Overland travelers frequently see armadillos, foxes,
jochis
(agoutis) and the gray-faced,
llama-like guanaco. Similar, but more delicately proportioned, is the fuzzy vicuña, once
mercilessly hunted for its woolly coat but now recovering well. You won't have to work
quite as hard to spot their domesticated relatives, the llama and the alpaca.
The national flower of Bolivia is the
kantuta
; not
only is it aesthetically beautiful, but it also reflects
the color of the national flag.
Plants
Because of its enormous range of altitudes, Bolivia enjoys a wealth and diversity of flora
rivaled only by its Andean neighbors. No fewer than 895 plants are considered endemic to
the country, including 16 species of passionfruit vines and at least three genera of orchids.
In the overgrazed highlands, the only remaining vegetable species are those with some
defense against grazing livestock or those that are not suitable for firewood. Much of what
does grow in the highlands grows slowly and is endangered, including the globally
