Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
other mammals, plus toucans, parrots and many other birds. Some 300 endemic and mi-
gratory bird species have been recorded at Tikal, among them nine hummingbirds and
four trogons. Good areas for sighting waterfowl - including the jabiru stork, the biggest
flying bird in the western hemisphere - are Laguna Petexbatún and the lakes near Yaxhá
ruins, both in El Petén, and the Río Dulce between Lago de Izabal and Lívingston.
To see rare scarlet macaws in the wild, the place to head is La Ruta Guacamaya (the Scarlet Macaw Trail)
of El Perú ruins in El Petén.
Guatemala's forests still host many mammal and reptile species. Petén residents include
jaguars, ocelots, pumas, two species of peccary, opossums, tapirs, kinkajous, agoutis (
te-
pescuintles;
rodents 60cm to 70cm long), white-tailed and red brocket deer, and arma-
dillos. Guatemala is home to at least five species of sea turtle (the loggerhead, hawksbill
and green ridley on the Caribbean coast, and the leatherback and olive ridley on the Pacif-
ic) and at least two species of crocodile (one found in El Petén, the other in the Río
Dulce). Manatees exist in the Río Dulce, though they're notoriously hard to spot.
SNAKE IN THE GRASS
The Central American or common lancehead, also called the fer-de-lance (locally known as
barba amarilla,
'yel-
low beard') is a highly poisonous viper with a diamond-patterned back and an arrow-shaped head. The
cascabel
(tropical rattlesnake) is the most poisonous of all rattlers. Both inhabit jungles and savannah.
Endangered Species
Guatemala's wildlife faces two major threats. The first is the loss of habitat, as more land
is turned over to farming. The second threat is hunting, which is mostly done for food, but
also takes place for the collection of skins and other products, as is the case for deer,
turtles and some reptiles. Endangered mammals include jaguars, howler monkeys,
manatees, several species of mice and bats, and the Guatemalan vole.
More than 25 bird species native to the region are listed as endangered, including the
Atitlán grebe (found only in Guatemala) and the national bird, the resplendent quetzal.
Many reptiles, including the Morelet's crocodile are likewise disappearing.
